House Rules for Believers!

1 Timothy 5:1 Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. 2 Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters. 3 Take care of widows who are destitute. 4 If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. 5 You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. 6 But a widow who exploits people's emotions and pocketbooks - well, there's nothing to her. 7 Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. 8 Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That's worse than refusing to believe in the first place. 9 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church. They must be over sixty, married only once, 10 and have a reputation for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled. 11 Don't put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they'll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. 12 By breaking their word, they're liable to go from bad to worse, 13 frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. 14 No, I'd rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. 15 Some of them have already left and gone after Satan. 16 Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn't be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help. (The Message)

This passage could be called "House Rules" for it includes some common sense attitudes and behaviors towards others. I thank God every time I encounter a young person who, in my opinion, was raised right. And by right, I mean respectful towards others, especially his or her elders, and those who might need special assistance. Paul, in trying to make sure that his envoy is received well and does well among the believers, writes instructions on how to interact with others. For older men, the instruction is to treat them as you would your father. Towards younger men, as you would your brothers. (This, of course, in full Christian love! Not the "real" way some brothers and sisters treat each other!). The instruction towards older women, the same as the men, as mothers, and younger women as sisters, and Paul adds, "with absolute purity." Then Paul shifts a significant portion towards widows. In this time, as in Jesus' time, widows were a special concern for they could not usually work outside of the home and had to depend on male relatives to provide and care for them. This is evident in the instructions Paul gives Timothy about them. He warns Timothy to be careful as to which among the widows is really in need, for Paul had encountered those who really needed assistance and those who played their status for all it was worth. How can you tell, Paul asks, those who put their whole trust in God, and who prays day and night for God's care, is the one worthy of help. The one "who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives." Paul adds that Timothy should teach this to others. Then, there is that verse that says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (v. 8). Even today, sadly, there are those types. If anyone has a widow in their family, they should check on them and provide for them as they have need. Paul also believes a widow should be listed as worthy of assistance if she is sixty or older, has been faithful in her marriage, is known for providing assistance to the needy, has done a good job in raising her children, has shown hospitality to all, has washed the feet of the saints, has helped those in trouble, and has devoted herself to "all kinds of good deeds."

Younger widows, Paul cautions, should not be on the list of those to be helped. They may give in to their sensual desires and not serve as they should. His recommendation for younger widows is for them to marry, have children, manage their households and not be in a predicament that might embarrass her or the church. Women who have widows in their family should assist them rather than have the church burdened with helping them.

Would you say these are strict house rules or rather good rules for a younger person sent to preach among people? Paul knows that even when trying to preach and minister some earthly wisdom is necessary to have effective interaction with others. The resources of the early church were quite limited, and Paul wanted Timothy to be wise in sharing those among the truly needy and those who might take advantage. Paul knew this Ephesian church and its members, and especially their need. Having worked among them, his instructions to Timothy are those intendedn to bless the overall ministry of that church. Paul is saying, that in the best interest of God's work here in this time and place, how can we best serve God and God's people?

PRAYER: Loving God, give us wisdom and love as we minister among those entrusted to our care. May we serve with understanding and compassion among a people who need to learn and grow as do we. May we minister faithfully with them in ways to help all of us to grow closer to You and to each other. We pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde