1 Timothy 5:1-16

1 Timothy 5:1-16

This whole section is, I think, about proper treatment of various kinds of widows. It begins with the 'big picture' philosophy of treating our fellow Christians as family.

1. Treat fellow Christians as family
a) Treat older men as fathers
- Don’t rebuke them harshly
- Exhort them
b) Treat younger men as brothers
c) Treat older women as mothers
- In Regards to older widows in need
1. Left alone
2. Evidence of dependence on God (vs. pleasure seeking)
3. Has lived a life worthy of her calling
4. Over 60 years old
d) Treat younger women as sisters
- With absolute purity
- In Regards to younger widows
1. Leave them alone (so they are busy working, or marry)
2. Encourage them to marry & be productive

2. Take care of your biological family
a) Take care of older women
- Put your religion into practice by caring (vs. deny faith)
- Repay them for their investment
- This pleases God
- The alternative is to be worse than an unbeliever
- Don’t let the church be burdened by them

In summary, we have a moral obligation to take care of our biological family. Since we live in a fallen world, some slip through the cracks of this 'care.' In such cases, the church had a plan of action. In exchange for 'care' (shelter and food), the widows would minister full-time (most likely, in prayer).

Other passages about widows:
Ex. 22:22-24, Deut. 10:17-18, 14:28-29, Psalm 146:6-9, Isaiah 1:17, Mark 12:38-40, James 1:27