CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY PT 2

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. Paul said to practice these things, keep watch over self and persist in doing God’s Will.

Finally, as we ended last, Paul tells Timothy to not rebuke an older man but encourage him, treat fellow believers as family (as brothers, as sisters, as a mom, as a dad).

Take care of the widows, true widows – those that have families – let families care for them, those that are self-indulgent can care for themselves.

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. And Jesus said in Matthew 12:50 - For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.

This is where we pick it up today – let us pray!

Christian Responsibility

1 Timothy 5:9–16 - Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

III. THE REQUIREMENTS—vv. 9–16

Requirements given to the widows in the Church.

1. Character—vv. 9–10 – Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

External and Internal criteria - Widows have a good character – they have lived out their faith – there is evidence of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

External Criteria –

Enrolled – katalego – enlisted like military – membership for certain groups, put on the roster of widows

Not under 60 – still young enough to care for self, remarry

Faithful to one husband – faithful to one spouse was a requirement for deacon and elder as well – evidence of faithfulness and not wander off

Marriage between a man and a woman complete the image of God – by being faithful to one spouse is also showing faithfulness to God – this is not the only evidence but part of the evidence that shows what Paul says next

Reputation for doing good works -

Internal Criteria –

Martyreo – mar too reh o – well respected by others, bear witness, testimony, is known for

a. Bringing up her children – same as elders – importance in raising your children up in the faith – to be God-centered not self-centered – live out their relationship with Christ and not their parents faith or relationships

b. Showing Hospitality – open to both those of the faith and outsiders as well

Romans 12:13 – Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 16:23a – Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you.

1 Timothy 3:2 – Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

c. Washing the feet of the saints – following the example of Christ – serving others believers humbly – posture of service – look at the needs of others

John 13 – Passover

Luke 7:44 – Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

d. Care for the afflicted – help those who are in trouble – assisted those afflicted, pressed hard on, distressed

e. Devoted herself to every good work – sums up the first four and anything not included with those – is covered here

High standard parallels those of an elder

Acts 9:36 – Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

2. Condemnation—vv. 11–12 – But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.

Their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Jesus

Not just reject – refuse to enroll younger widows from receiving support from church

Paul warns that their sexual desires will lead them away from their love for Jesus to a husband and then Paul says in v15 – some have already strayed

It is not that marriage is bad – marriage is honorable – but if they promise to doing what Paul laid out in v9-10 and then they leave their obligations to get married – they actually do the church harm

Paul does not want young widows to have to choose – he sees the pattern of what happens (v15)

3. Criticism—v. 13 – Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

Besides being drawn away by physical and emotional passions – when they are young widows they learn to be idlers

Learn – 2:11 – wives learn

5:4 – learn to show

2 Timothy 3:7 – always learning

Same verb here – they learn to be idlers – learn to be lazy, learn to shun work, labor

And not only – But that’s not all – if they continue they also –

Phlyros – flooaros – utter and do silly things, foolish things, babble – gossip

And

Periergos – per ee er gos – busy about trifles – ignore important things, busy about other people’s affairs

Engaging in and saying things they should never say nor do

Paul warned the church at Ephesus in 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

If you take in young widows – this is what they resort to – allow them to remarry and have a family

4. Consecration—vv. 14–15 – So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.

Too much is at stake here – eternity

Widows who are young but struggling should do the following –

a. Remarry – we believe marriage completes the image of God –

b. Bear children – they are God’s gift –

Psalm 127:3 – Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

c. Manage their homes – not cleaning but the caring of and instruction, managing the affairs of the house – keeping it centered on God

d. Give no opportunity to the enemy – shut the door on satan – do not give anyone an occasion to verbally attack you – live like God calls you to and your reputation will be able to stand on its own

Some have already chased after satan – like the false teachers in chapter 1 – some have already left God for lies – they chased after what itches their ears

2 Timothy 4:3 – For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

5. Concern—v. 16 – If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

Relatives responsible for widows.

Tis – literally – someone – whom-soever, whose-soever – if a believer has a relative that is a widow – they must care for her

Eparkeo – must give assistance – required to help – must defend

Paul is not saying – should – this is imperative – they must care for her – why?

So that church is not burdened when it doesn’t have 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.

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.”

Remember Tabitha, called Dorcas in Acts 9:36 – when she died this was the scene

Acts 9:39 – So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

Dorcas fit both categories – she was a widow in need of support – but she used that support, to support other widows – the categories should overlap – those receiving aid should also be giving aid if they have no family

No free handouts – use God’s blessings to enable you to bless others –

If we were a true widow – would we qualify for assistance from Paul or Timothy based on the 5 qualifiers?

How are we doing at caring for those who are? How many widows live in Grace Manor and receive no visitors?

Members that can’t make it to church – like Ruthie – are we reaching out to them, caring for their emotional and spiritual needs?

How can Vona Church do better at this?

Let Us Pray!

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