Who to Help

Who to Help
Words of Faith 6-6-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

1 Timothy 5
[9] No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, [10] and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. [11] As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. [12] Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. [13] Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. [14] So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. [15] Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. [16] If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

This is a remarkable passage of Scripture for many reasons. The description of the saintly widow is a lovely one. We will get to some of those. But for today, let's listen to the advice of Paul to Timothy in the most difficult of areas. How does the church Body decide who to help?
Pastors, leaders, and deacons always deal with this sort of question. With limited benevolence funds, there have to be decisions. There is also a point at which helping a person to excess does not really help them get back on their feet; it only creates a relationship of dependence. So Paul gave some practical advice and criteria for those who should be supported by the Body of believers.
Apparently, the church in Ephesus developed a "list of widows." This concern went back to the early days of ministry in Jerusalem. Paul set some requirements for this list. A person should be cared for by the Body of the church only if they are over sixty years of age. That is, if they are young enough and able to work in some way, they should do so. (This sounds a little like the Social Security system!)
But this other factor was important as well. Those on the list should be known for their character. They should be well known for their good deeds and service within the church. Such "Church mothers" probably cared for children as needed and helped in the homes of those who were sick.
But primarily, family was to care for the family. This was the priority. A woman with widows in her family should care for them rather than become a "burden to the church" Body. The church should focus on those without other resources or family members to help them.
At this time, younger widows were encouraged to remarry if this was possible. The concerns were clear for Paul. Even though he saw concern over remarriage, he counseled young widows to remarry rather than fall into some of the traps of sensuality or idleness. Paul advised that some widows may be best off remarrying and making a home and family with another believing man.
What are we to do with this passage? Obviously, the age we live in looks pretty different. We can be grateful for Social Security survivor benefits and life insurance. Even without such things, we would never counsel a widow to remarry just so they would have a place to live. Nor would we advise a widower to do so.
The point here is not to apply these specific criteria precisely. Instead, we must recognize that care within the Christian community is not easy and never has been. Much prayer and discernment are required. The responses in the modern world are not cut and dried. Situational issues must be considered, and sound advice should be sought.

Father God, give my church leaders a tender and compassionate heart to those in genuine need. Give them discernment in caring for those hurting and going through difficult times. Help us as the Body of Christ to watch with Your heart and see with Your eyes. In Jesus' name. Amen.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an e-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an e-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. The daily devotion and archive are posted at https://www.faithfellowshipweb.com/blog
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.