1 Timothy chapter 5:3-16   Message 27

Last week we began in chapter 5 learning of the pastor’s responsibilities in ministering to the members of the church.  We were introduced to the –

    5.       Counsel to the Church                 1 Timothy 5:1 – 6:2  

   Paul provided Timothy with a practical guide to the pastor’s relationship with the church.  We learned last week that he is to –

       a.  Pastoral Ministry   To Regard them as family         

         1).  Ministry to the members

1 Timothy 5:1-2  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

This morning we look at the instructions in the ministry to other specific groups in the church, of which we will begin with the –

        2). Ministry to widows.             1 Timothy 5:3-16

          a).  The commands concerning widows in the Old Testament –

It is very important for each of us to remember that the care of those who are considered weak, those members of society termed “less fortunate”, those who are in a difficult position through no fault of their own, is very important to God.

            (1).  Commandments –

Deuteronomy 10:17-19  For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

The command given helps us to understand that if we are the people of God, His children, then we are not what we used to be.  The Lord speaks to this point through the Apostle Paul in the New Testament –

Romans 6:17-18  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

God set forth their care, which included their provision –

Deuteronomy 14:28-29  At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

And the protection of property –

Proverbs 15:25  The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

Proverbs 22:28   Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

God has warned that He will judge any mistreatment of these that are in need of help –

            (2).  Condemnations –

Malachi 3:1-6  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

We see, on the other hand, the –

            (3).  Commendations –

Notice the testimony given by Job, which predates the giving of the Law.

Job 29:7-17  When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

            (4).  Consolation –

Isaiah 1:16-18 (KJV) Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

And yet, God’s people did not turn to Him in repentance and faith.  They continued to rebel and as recorded in the New Testamennt, the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked them for the hardness of the hearts –

Matthew 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

God is the helper of those in need of help.  We must remember that God uses His people to provide the help needed and we are to be open hearted and open handed at His direction.  God does not leave us to be directed by emotion, but has given instruction for the care of those in need –

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

            2).  The condition for care in the New Testament.

             (1).    The widow that is destitute 

               (a).  She has no means of support.

1 Timothy 5:5  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

               (b).  She relies completely on God

               (c).  She may be included in a church supported group         

1 Timothy 5:9-10  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

            (2).     The widow that has family.

1 Timothy 5:4  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

1 Timothy 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

1 Timothy 5:16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

              (a).   She has living children or extended family.

              (b).   The family is to look after her needs.

1 Timothy 5:8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

1 Timothy 5:16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

              (3).   The widow that is living the life of pleasure.  

               (a).  They are to be instructed.

1 Timothy 5:6-7  But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

               (b).  They are not to be given full-time support from the church.     

1 Timothy 5:11-13  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

             (4).    The widow who is young and can remarry.      

1 Timothy 5:14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Notice how provision should be available for those in need.  Also notice that those who are able to care for themselves should be directed to do so.  Provision should not be given to them as it will take from the supplies needed to help those in genuine need.

The Lord set forth the guiding principle to this in –

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

•  The daily work provides the needs of the family.
•  The daily work prevents idleness which leads to trouble.

Conclusion – We have seen that God cares for those in need.  We must care for those things that God cares for.  We must have the mind and heart of God –

The Lord commanded us in –

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Do people see that you love God and that you care for the things He cares for and follow the instructions that He has given?