Text: 1 Tim 5:13-16, Title: Widows of a Certain Age, Date/Place: WHBC, 8.26.18, AM
A. Opening illustration:
B. Background to passage: Paul continues his thoughts about relationships in the church moving from rebuke, correction, and encouragement to taking care of the destitute. Women in this time were usually not trained in a particular trade or skill, therefore most worked in the home (notice I said worked). Therefore, if a husband, father, or son, and all male relatives or close friends were gone, or essentially gone, she was without means of support. There was not an existing government welfare system as we know it, but some suppose that the system that we have in place now has foundations in Christian compassion for the less fortunate.
C. Main thought: The care of widows in the church brings with it several implications.
1) Church Discernment (v. 3, 9-10)
a. Paul says that the church is to honor widows who are truly, as opposed to not truly, widows. A theme from the OT through the NT is that special care should be given to widows, orphans, and those who are without means to survive. It has become a problem in the Ephesian church, because young widows are being taken care of by the church and becoming a thorn in its flesh. The church has resources it has been given, and Paul wants them to be used wisely.
b. Argumentation
c. Illustration:
d. The church (the gathered assembly) must exercise discernment in all that it does. Its leaders must have discernment in what they do to lead it. Evaluation: does each ministry we do make Christ look great? Does disciple making result from each ministry we do? We don’t evaluate by we have done it before. We don’t evaluate whether or not a lot of people come. We assess people as best we can, but some ministries are commanded. Some are wise and helpful. So, we must ask about the use of our resources. Budget time is here, read the lines, use discernment. In order to use the best discernment, we must be walking in the Spirit. We must also be close to the Lord in prayer, constantly seeking his face for an hear to listen to the guidance that the scriptures promise.
2) Family Responsibility (v. 4, 8)
a. Even though the main topic is the church’s care for widows, Paul is clear that the first provision of care for widows is not the church. The first line of care is the family. The widows spoken of here are ones who are “left all alone.” He has some strong words for those who fail to take care of their family. He says that they are acting worse than unbelievers and denying the fact that the Christian faith is based on love. The Romans and Greeks in general even felt obligated to take care of their own families. This terminology is broad enough to include extended family and even friends.
b. Jesus called the Pharisees out on this
c. Illustration:
d. Families are supposed to take care of family first. It is a fading ideal in our culture that we are obligated to take care of families. More often we hear stories of parents and children or extended families that are estranged from one another. You should deal with the estrangement if at all possible. The Christian faith is built on overcoming love. More often we hear of children moving away and being there when needed. Be prepared to do what is necessary to tend to aging relatives. For generations in this country that mentality was there, now with millennials and down, the commitment is not as strong. Many of you have fulfilled this biblical mandate for families to help families first, and I know that the Lord is pleased. Let this serve as a reminder of our familial responsibility to our own. Without the care from the family the church is also burdened from a financial and volunteer aspect.
3) Lifestyle Expectations (v. 5-7, 10-16)
a. Paul gives a couple of lists that describe the character of the women that should be put on the list of widows that the church should take care of. There is also an assumption that these women would take some sort of vow to serve the church as they could. Therefore, the younger widows that should not be put on the list would not make a vow to serve the church wholly and then not be able to keep it.
b. He says that widows worthy of the list should be those 60 and up with 1) no family to care for them, 2) has deep faith and hope in God, 3) continues in constant prayer, 4) who is not self-indulgent (lives simply), 5) good reputation, 6) reared children well (this may have to do with the care that they would now commit to through the church), 7) shown hospitality (probably relating to traveling missionaries and ministers), 8) ministered to those in the church, 9) and care for the sick, imprisoned, and persecuted.
c. He then gives the instruction that the younger widows should be encouraged to marry for several reasons, 1) might be drawn away from by sensual passions, 2) might break the vows made to serve the church alone because of a legitimate desire for marriage, 3) they may become idle gossips, having the time and energy and lacking the restraint because the church is taking care of them to go from home to home spreading rumors, and stirring things up. This was already happening according to v. 15, and he equates in to straying after Satan. So, he says tell them to marry, it’s good.
d. Anna in the temple awaiting the messiah would have been an example
e. Illustration:
f. Losing husbands early in life was a much more normal occurrence during the first century, and everyone serving in their place was important to church life. The older widows had a place of service, and the younger ones were supposed to marry and contribute to the church from a more domestic angle. Married men and women, as well as single men and women have their place. Christ puts his body together. This text is not just about women being in their place. It is about all of us serving in the church as a family, as a body, using our gifts to further the kingdom.
g. A couple of main questions for application: Are we taking care of the widows in our care? Not just shut-ins, but all widows? This is a commanded ministry. Are you filling your role in the body of Christ at Western Heights? Married or single, old or young, new believer or mature believer, long-time member or recent attendee, introvert or extrovert, are you filling your role? We are not called to simply fill a pew. The gospel is way to big for that. When we capture the vision of Christ, his worth/value as treasure, when we find our ultimate satisfaction is all that he is, when we understand the cross and its full power and purchase for us, we will be compelled to serve, desire to serve, look for our place. If you have no desire to serve, pray all week if you have to for God to change you, give you a true perspective of the cross.
A. Closing illustration:
B. Recap
