1 TIMOTHY 5
1 Outline
1 Timothy 5:1-16
TAKING CARE OF FAMILY
The church is a family. Each true church member is a child of God,
having been born again. John 1:12-13
Just as it is important that we take of our families
at home, it is also important that we take care of our church families as well.
1 Timothy 5:1-16 talks about the way we should treat
each other as church family members, and how we should treat a very important
segment of the church family, widows.
RESPECT - Vss. 1-2
Timothy, Paul's protégé, was probably between thirty
and forty years old. He was told to
treat everyone with respect, especially those whom he needed to correct. When someone does something to anger or
disturb us, this is when it is most difficult to deal with the problem and to
show respect.
Elders, older men, were to be appealed to as fathers.
Younger men were to be appealed to as brothers.
Older women were to be appealed to as mothers.
Younger women were to be appealed to as sisters, in all
purity.
RESPONSIBILITY - Vss. 3,4,8,16
Vs. 3 - In the church the needs of widows were
attended to from the very beginning. In fact, the first church dispute on
record was about the care of widows. Acts 6
God is concerned for the widow. Deuteronomy 10:18,
Isaiah 1:17
Vs. 4 - When a widow can not take care of herself, the
first line of help is the family. The
word "nephews" actually refers to grandchildren.
Vs. 8 - A person who does not care of his own family
is worse than an unbeliever.
Vs. 16 - The church has a responsibility to meet the
needs of widows. But, the primary
responsibility of the church is to care for "widows
indeed". Widows indeed have
no one else to care for them.
REQUIREMENTS - Vss. 5-7, 9-10
There are certain requirements for being "widows
indeed".
·
She has no means of taking care of herself. Vs. 5
·
She is a believer, trusting in God. Vs. 5
·
She is a lady who continues in prayer. Vs. 5
·
She needed to be at least 60 years old and only
married once. Vs. 9
·
She was to have a good reputation. Vs. 10
·
She was to be a doer of good works. Vs. 10
RESTRICTIONS - Vss. 11-15
Vss. 11-12 - Younger widows were not ready for the
full time service to Christ that a Godly widow was to perform. Eventually they would marry, and bring
judgment upon themselves.
Vs. 13 - Younger women would also have a tendency to
get lazy and become "tattlers" and busybodies".
Vs. 14 - Younger women were to remarry.
RETURN
TO EPHESIANS – PHILEMON INDEX