v3- 4Paul says to look after widows who are truly widows. A definition of a true widow is someone who has no family support, and this is the church’s responsibility for her welfare and her legitimate needs but only for those who are really in need. But if the widow has other family members such as children or grandchildren, the family should repay their debt to the widow as this pleases God. So they should be the one looking after the widow, not the church. So this goes back to honouring our parents which we must do by caring for their needs.
exodus 20 : 12, Honor your father and your mother so that you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is going to give you.Ephesians 6:2 The command says, "Honor your father and mother." This is the first command that has a promise with it
exodus 20 : 12, Honor your father and your mother so that you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is going to give you.Ephesians 6:2 The command says, "Honor your father and mother." This is the first command that has a promise with it
v5-6
Now here are the two differences between widows.
Now here are the two differences between widows.
Widow 1
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Widow 2
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In need, no other family support
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In need, no other family support
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Worthy to receive help, puts her faith and hope in God, continues to pray day and night for God’s help for herself and for others needs as well.
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Uses her life to please herself, live ungodly lives, has a life of comfort based on their own desires, they are separate from fellowship, live immoral live, their bodies are alive but their spirits are dead.
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Paul shows that widows like widow 1 are worthy to get church help, but people like widow 2 aren’t worthy to receive help.
v7-8
Paul tells Timmy to tell the believers all of this, so they aren’t criticized by others, they act right and therefore are blameless. It then turns to the family members saying that whoever doesn’t care for their relatives (extended family) and their own household (immediate family) has turned against the faith, AND IS WORSE THAN SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN GOD. Ouch. Even unbelievers care for their family.
Paul tells Timmy to tell the believers all of this, so they aren’t criticized by others, they act right and therefore are blameless. It then turns to the family members saying that whoever doesn’t care for their relatives (extended family) and their own household (immediate family) has turned against the faith, AND IS WORSE THAN SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN GOD. Ouch. Even unbelievers care for their family.
Application
We need to respect old people! They care for us and brought us, we need to look after them and especially ones that can’t look after themselves. Is there people in your family you can show care to? Pray to God that you can help those who are lonely and in need by showing them love and compassion – just as Jesus would have done.
We need to respect old people! They care for us and brought us, we need to look after them and especially ones that can’t look after themselves. Is there people in your family you can show care to? Pray to God that you can help those who are lonely and in need by showing them love and compassion – just as Jesus would have done.
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