SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 5
BIBLE VERSES:
‘Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5: 1-2)
“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 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.” (1 Timothy 5:3-4)
“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and “The worker deserves his wages.”(1 Timothy 5:17-18)
“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” (1 Timothy 5:19-20)
ADVICE ABOUT WIDOWS, ELDERS AND SLAVES (vs. 1-25)
Do not rebuke an elder harshly but treat him as if he is your father. Treat younger men as brothers and younger women as sisters. This s a call to love others as God loves us.
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING WIDOWS AND GIVING OF ASSISTANCE:
- Children or grandchildren should care for their parents, or members who are widows (v. 4)
- Relatives should provide for his immediate family (v. 8)
- To qualify as lists of widows, she should be over 60, faithful to her husband, bring u[p the children well, hospitable and do good deeds (vs. 9-10)
- No young widow should be put on the list (v. 11)
- Younger widows should better remarry and start a new family (v. 14)
- A believer who has widows in his family should help them and not let the church burdened with them. (v. 16)
INSTRUCTION CONCERNING ELDERS:
- The elders are worthy of double honors (v. 17)
- Elders who devote their work for teaching and preaching deserve their wages (v. 18)
- Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses (v. 19)
- Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly to warn others (v. 20)
INSTRUCTIONS OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY:
- Keep my instructions without partiality and do nothing out of favoritism. (v. 21)
- Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. (v. 22)
- Drink a little wine to keep yourself healthy (v. 23)
- Choose church leaders carefully. Church leaders must live lives that are above reproach.
THOUGHTS:
Charity begins at home. Church leaders must exercise discernment in giving out assistance and investigate every case of charity. God’s money must not be gone to waste because Christian follow their emotions instead of God’s Word.
Beware of people who join the church because they know that soft-hearted saints would give them a handout “for Jesus sake”. We should balance church financial responsibility with generosity.,
Faithful church leader should be supported and appreciated. Do not take them for granted and subject them to unfair criticism. Honor and respect your preacher and teacher by supporting them with adequate pay.