Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Timothy 5
Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
What Does This Mean?
One of the problems in the early church was though the church was committed to helping widows, there were so many of them in need, they had to prioritize which ones needed the most help. Also, it seems as though some of them started to take advantage of their station in life. Paul also states that the children and grandchildren of widow should be the first to help her out. Paul feels so strongly that he says that someone who does not care for his immediate family is worse than an unbeliever. That is a pretty call strong for children to help their parents when one of them has died.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Though the church is called to help those in need, sometimes the needs of those around us are so abundant we can’t help everyone and have to prioritize who really needs it. I know personally if we were to give money to everyone who comes in and asks for it, that we would not be able to run the other ministries of our church. Paul is getting at an entitlement characteristic that is natural to our human condition.
Just as in another chapter, Paul says those who don’t work can’t eat, here he advocates younger widows to re-marry, and for the older ones who are truly in need and honoring God to be given first dibs on the church’s resources. While the church needs to reflect Christ’s compassion to those truly in need it needs to be wise in determining who really needs help or who just needs a kick in the pants.
Heavenly Father help us to help those who really need help and to encourage those who can help themselves to get to work. Only you know a person’s heart so help us not to be judgmental in this process and be led by the Spirit of Your Son. Amen.
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
What Does This Mean?
One of the problems in the early church was though the church was committed to helping widows, there were so many of them in need, they had to prioritize which ones needed the most help. Also, it seems as though some of them started to take advantage of their station in life. Paul also states that the children and grandchildren of widow should be the first to help her out. Paul feels so strongly that he says that someone who does not care for his immediate family is worse than an unbeliever. That is a pretty call strong for children to help their parents when one of them has died.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Though the church is called to help those in need, sometimes the needs of those around us are so abundant we can’t help everyone and have to prioritize who really needs it. I know personally if we were to give money to everyone who comes in and asks for it, that we would not be able to run the other ministries of our church. Paul is getting at an entitlement characteristic that is natural to our human condition.
Just as in another chapter, Paul says those who don’t work can’t eat, here he advocates younger widows to re-marry, and for the older ones who are truly in need and honoring God to be given first dibs on the church’s resources. While the church needs to reflect Christ’s compassion to those truly in need it needs to be wise in determining who really needs help or who just needs a kick in the pants.
Heavenly Father help us to help those who really need help and to encourage those who can help themselves to get to work. Only you know a person’s heart so help us not to be judgmental in this process and be led by the Spirit of Your Son. Amen.
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