Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...
If you read 1 Timothy chapter 5 you will find some instructions on church governance and function; and of how the various age and gender groups of believers are to conduct themselves. It's all very practical.
The first two verses touch on interpersonal behavior when having to dispense discipline. How is one to go about it?
Timothy was a young man, possibly a bachelor. He must be very circumspect. No easy task laid out for him! Yet there he was in an overseeing position. He may well have been reticent to act.
Paul tells Timothy to "not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were his father." Wow! Did you ever have to point out a failing in your father, to him? How do you think he'd take that even if what was brought to his attention was done so with a respectful attitude and good tone of voice and non-aggressive body language?
People don't take to rebuke easily. Yet we are to be meek; to inculcate meekness. Meekness (KJV) is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which in another translation is rendered "gentleness" (NIV). We all need to swallow our pride (it's non-fattening) and receive such rebukes and exhortations in that Spirit of meekness; even when those younger than us point out that which is not according to God's standard in our lives. It can be a bitter pill to swallow too but in the end can bring healing to our souls and even to our health.No matter the age, let us give and take rebuke with great meekness so as to please our Father in heaven with our Christ-like behavior in and among His family and elsewhere.
Likely another tricky one, if Timothy was indeed an eligible bachelor (or even as a married man), would be dealings with the opposite 'fair' gender; the young maidens. These "younger women" he was to treat as "sisters," and that with "absolute purity".
I like the example of Billy Graham, the world renown evangelist. It is said that if he had to speak with a woman &/or sister in private, that he would leave his office door somewhat ajar. This is in keeping with "absolute purity" and it is well to take absolute note of this, my sons!
The next four verses (3-6) instruct the people of God on giving "proper recognition to those widows who are really in need". This care giving falls to the children and grandchildren to administer. This is a way for them to "put their religion into practice and so repay their parents/grandparents" for all they've done for them throughout the prior years.
Breadwinners need to provide for their immediate family (wife, children), then their parents and grandparents and then any widow in the family. 1 Timothy 5:8 says that if they don't provide, they are worse than an unbeliever. They must needs look after their own and not allow the church to take in the responsibility unnecessarily and the church must hold those family members accountable.
I read in some book many years ago, that in India, when a husband died, the widow would be burned alive with him on the funeral pyre. This is NOT the way to care for the widow. Later, that practice was abandoned but the widows were still shunned. There eventually became a region where those widows would end up living and maybe find some degree of acceptance. Eventually, God came in, through a widow who came to Christ. She, along with a missionary lady (I wish I could remember more details of this) started up The Band of Indian Widows. This was not a musical band but these dear sisters in Christ went about spreading the gospel and message of Jesus. This gave this band of widows hope and a life; an abundant life in Christ.
This was unusual but greatly used of God in that country of India. This is how God their Heavenly Father provided for members of His immediate family; for His daughters whom He loved and accepted.
Back to the case in point...who is the widow who is "really in need" and if she is "really in need" what other criteria is considered to get "on the list" for the church to care for and support.
Verses 9 & 10 of 1 Timothy 5 remind me a lot of Proverbs 31 and the type of wife the bachelor King Lemuel was advised to look for. This sister, before she became a widow, had "been faithful to her husband", "was over 60 years of age; well known for her good deeds: bringing up children, showing hospitality; washing the feet of the saints; helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds". That is an impressive resume! There is no doubt as to whether she should or should not be "on the list". Her daily life spoke for itself.
Paul didn't seem to have a very good opinion of the younger widows (vs 11-16). Seems rather unfair. But again, that meekness must be activated in this area. Well, we have the exhortation for younger widows to be aware, and beware, of these characterizing them, of becoming them (gossipers and busybodies, etc). Also, these verses do give license to remarry if possible. Perhaps Timothy had to act as matchmaker for these sisters.
With such interpersonal relationships for each age/gender group, no wonder those in leadership, such as elders (vs17), who conduct themselves well, would be "worthy of double honor".
We all would do well to remember this. Leadership among God's people is not for gaining prestige or power but for giving God honor and praise. The governance of God's people is not to be taken lightly. Christ is the Head and we need to submit to Him and those He puts into positions of authority above us, in meekness. Let us conduct ourselves aright.
~ERC 2016~
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