CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY

Paul has spent a lot of time instructing Timothy on how to deal with the wolves in sheep’s clothing – all through chapters 1, 2 and the beginning of 4.

He warns that some, despite Timothy’s leadership and teaching will depart from the faith – the enemy will sear the conscience.

They will teach false doctrines, and create their own word from god on how to live – even devoting themselves to demonic teachings.

But he encourages Timothy to remain steadfast and command and teach all that Paul has mentioned and will mention. Calls on us and Timothy to be the example in our speech, conduct, faith, love and purity. Continue in teaching, encouraging, and reading God’s Word. Finally as we ended last week, Paul said to practice these things, keep watch over self and persist in doing God’s Will.

This is where we pick up this week – so let us pray!

Christian Responsibility

1 Timothy 5:1–8 – Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I. THE RESPECT—vv. 1–2

1. Respect – Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows.

Paul divides the church into 4 groups of people – how pastors, elders, shepherd should relate – their default mode for each group

Older man – the only singular group

Respect the older man. So much can be learned through the older men.

Epiplesso – ep ee place so - Do not rebuke – never speak harshly – never verbally strike, beat upon chastise

But rather – parakaleo – exhort, encourage, strengthen,

As a father – the 10 commandments – the first commandment not towards God directly and with a promise –

Deuteronomy 5:16 – “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

How are we to treat an older man – as we would treat our father – with honor and respect (kabad – Hebrew word for respect – heavy weight, honor etc)

The second group is younger men.

Treat younger men as if they were your brother –

Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

The third group – older women as mothers – notice God said the word AND in both Deuteronomy 5:16 and now Exodus 20:12 – both fathers and mothers are to be honored

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

So, both an older man and older women should receive honor as if they were your parents – in a male dominated times – Paul includes both men and women here

Proverbs 1:8 – Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 4:3 – For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.

Proverbs 15:20 – A wise son brings joy to his father but a foolish son brings grief to his mother

Proverbs 20:20 – If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

Proverbs 23:22 – Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

The last group is younger women.

Treat younger women as if they were your sister –

Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

2. Relationship.

Treat older men like fathers, young girls like sisters and older women like mothers. Treat young men like brothers.

We are all in the family of Christ – treat each other as such

No double standard – not one for older and one for younger – not one for male and one for female – one standard

Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

II. THE RESPONSIBILITY—vv. 3–8

1. Principle—vv. 3–5 – Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,

Take care of – honorarium to pay for – to value

True widows – who have no one – Naomi – Ruth’s mother-in-law – husband and children died

James would say – the barometer of the health of church and the spiritual integrity of those in the church would be how they treated widows and orphans

James 1:27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

The family should support the widows and orphans in their families.

When they do – they “repay” their parents – indicates an indebtedness the children have for their parents

Its not they should save up and carry their parents – but care for them – not pass the burden onto others.

Jesus warns of using God as an excuse to not take care of your parents

Mark 7:11-12 – But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Paul reiterates this is verse 8 that we will get to –

1 Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Paul does clarify what widows should be helped if they are truly widows –

a. If she is all alone and set her hope on God – Ann from Luke 2:36-38 – it is said that v 37 - and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

b. Not is she is self-centered – that leads us into our next point

2. Peril—v. 6 – but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

Those living for pleasure are dead to spiritual things are not in need to being taken care of – do not waste the resources of the church if they are self-indulgent.

Physically alive – spiritually dead – self-centered not God-centered

3. Purity—v. 7 – Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.

Reminiscent of 4:11 – Command and teach these things

Timothy – church leaders – command these things as well – respect those in the church that are older than you like you would your parents – treats those younger than that as your brother and sister

Take care of true widow but do not be frivolous with church resources – do not help those that are self-indulgent and not focused on God – not in a relationship with God.

This is Paul’s 3rd of 5 times – commanding

1:3 – command/charge do not allow those to teach – to teach a different doctrine

4:11 – command and teach – men and women in church, elders, deacons, be trained, be the example that others live out their faith in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity

Why – so they may be above reapproach – not able to apprehend or censure – find no fault will not open themselves to criticism

4. Provision—v. 8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Four-fold ministry –

a. Repay our parents

b. Not be burden on the church

c. Please God

d. Express our faith – not deny it

To care for others is a fundamental duty – call on believers – care for other believers

Matthew 12:48-50 – But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Luke 8:21 – But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

When we don’t – what does Paul say – he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever

Even Gentiles/Pagans take care of their family –

Asian and African families set the example of what Christians should be doing

DA Carson and Robert Yarbrough state, “Even unbelievers exercise filial (familial) piety. Christians should excel in the display of this civil virtue.”

How devoted are you to Scripture? Are you addicted to reading God’s Word? Daily?

How does taking care of family and those older than us relate to our faith walk?