SCRIPTURE: I TIMOTHY 5
MEMORY VERSE:
“If any one does not provide for his relatives and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:7)
HOW TO TREAT AN OLD MAN , A YOUNG MAN, AN OLD WOMAN AND A YOUNG WOMAN:
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat young men as brothers, older women as mothers and younger women as sisters with absolute purity. (v. 1-2)
ADVICE ABOUT WIDOWS: (vs. 3-16)
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and repaying their parents and grandparents. for this is pleasing to God. 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. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment of themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idler, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So it is better for younger widows to marry, to have children , to manage their homes and not to give the enemy an opportunity for slander.
If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
ADVICE ABOUT ELDERS (vs. 17-23)
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. Keep these instructions without partiality and go nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
THOUGHTS:
Problems in the church often arise because people cannot get along with each other. Brothers and sisters do not always dwell together in unity. Paul suggest that we treat other people the way we would treat members of our own family. Deal with older people as you would to your father or mother and accept the younger believers as brothers and sisters. He called us to love others as God loves us.
Paul wanted Christian families to be as self-supporting as possible. He insisted that children and grandchildren should take care of the widows in their families. He suggested that younger widows remarry and start new families. He ordered the church not to support lazy members who refused to work. The church has to balance financial responsibility with generosity. Charity should begin at home and church leaders must exercise discernment in making decisions. They should not show partiality or favoritism.
Church leaders are not exempt from sin, faults and mistakes. But they are often criticized for the wrong reasons – failure to meet someone’s expectation, personality clashes and minor imperfections. Thus, Paul said that accusations should be made with two or three witnesses confirming them. However, sometimes, church leaders should be confronted about their behavior and sometimes they should be rebuked. But the rebuking must be done fairly and lovingly and for the purpose of restoration.
Paul said that a church should never be hasty in choosing its leaders, especially the pastor because we may overlook major problems or sin. It is a serious responsibility to choose church leaders. They must have strong faith and be morally upright before taking a leadership position.