The Balance Between Care and Personal Responsibility

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1 Timothy 5

5 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, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

 As Paul closes out his letter to his protege Timothy, he finishes with some practical matters about relationships in the church.  When God calls us to be a believer, he sets us apart and we become a member of the body of Christ.  As such how we treat each other is an indication of our love for God and each other.  In particular, Paul is concerned about those who tend to get excluded in the community and in the church.  He lifts up older people, young people and widows.  

 What is really important to notice is the balance Paul shows between the church helping people out and their own families and in some cases helping themselves out.  Paul also favors those who are living out an authentic relationship with God in their lives, versus those who are using the money or help for their own sinful desires.  

 So what does this mean?  We are called to love one another and help those in real need.  I.e. Widow, orphans, single moms or dad, the homeless.  But these people also have a responsibility to do what they can and their families should also be there to help them.  Wow what a concept!  I will bet you will not have to take big leap to see how this applies to the government etc..  But first these words are for us as the church, the body of Christ!  

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