Counsel concerning the
widows
Key Verses: 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 17, 23, 25
Remember,
Paul is giving advice to Timothy, his young protégé. This advice includes how
to show respect to both your elders and your peers. The problem with the advice
is that so many don’t know what proper treatment of an elder or a peer looks
like. They have never seen it, or recognized it when it happened. So to treat
them like a family member often comes out as disrespect! We need to treat our
family at least as well as we are told to treat strangers.
The
charity coming from a church needs to be focused on those that are really in
need, not just those whose family is unwilling to help. Family has the primary
responsibility for caring for poor, elderly or infirmed family members. When
someone has this kind of need, the churches first response needs to be family
education. The family needs to learn to take care of their own. When someone
does not have family, or the family truly can’t meet the need, then the church
can step in with care.
Taking
care of your family might mean sacrifices. There might some “tightening of the
belt” that takes place. Eating out might come to an end. Big vacations might
need to be given up. Other members of the family might need to work a paying
job to make up the difference. But family needs to take care of family.
There
should also be some requirements for those who do not have family. Not just
anyone gets help from the church. Paul starts with some age restriction, over
60. That is because younger women in those days could earn some money through
productive work. It might not be a career, but it would be income.
There are
also some character requirements. They themselves need to have demonstrated
with actions the kind of charity they are about to receive. They need to have
put their money where their mouth is. The two presidential candidates have
given. One has given a substantial amount of their income, one has given a
token amount. One has given millions and a high percentage of his income away
and the other has give tens of thousands, and a very small percentage away.
Paul would commend one and scold the other.
Paul’s
point is that we need to be productive if we can. We need to add value to those
around us by the work we do. We are not to become idle. We are to do the caring
and supporting personally rather than passing that care off to others.
We should
pay pastors. Taking medicine is OK. Let our life speak for our faith. Preach
the good news of Jesus; use words if we have to.