October
14th 1
Timothy 5
F. The Duties of Officers in the Church
Being gentle
1:
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men
as brethren; 2: The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters,
with all purity. 3: Honour widows that are widows indeed. 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. 5: Now she that is a widow indeed, and
desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and
prayers night and day. 6: But she that liveth in pleasure is dead
while she liveth. 7: And these things give in charge, that they may
be blameless. 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. 9: Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10: 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. 11: But the younger widows refuse: for when they have
begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12: Having
damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13: 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. 14: I will therefore that the younger women
marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the
adversary to speak reproachfully. 15: For some are already turned
aside after Satan. 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. 17: Let the elders
that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they
who labour in the word and doctrine. 18: For the scripture saith,
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The
labourer is worthy of his reward. 19: Against an elder receive not an
accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20: Them that sin
rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21: I charge thee
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that
thou observe these things without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by partiality. 22: Lay hands suddenly on no man,
neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 23: Drink
no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and
thine often infirmities. 24: Some men's sins are open beforehand,
going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25:
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and
they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
This
passage is interesting because Paul says to Timothy rebuke not an
elder. Elders in Israel and in the church were probably above the age
of 50 and Timothy was probably just under that age. Sometimes an
elder needs to be rebuked but it’s not the place of Timothy to do
it. Paul is saying he might be wrong - but respect his office. And he
says plead with the elder who is wrong as you would your own father
and treat those younger men as brothers. Treat the older women as
your own mother and the younger women as your sister in pure
relationships. Give not only respect but as a church give finical
assistance to those widows that are very poor indeed. However if they
have family then they should provide for their needs. Godliness
should be seen first in these practical matters at home giving
sustenance to parents in need because this is good and God accepts
this as godliness. Paul defines widows who need help, he says, the
widow that has no help at all trusts in God for her daily food and is
constantly in prayer night and day. But the younger widow who lives
for pleasure is spiritually dead while she lives. Paul says teach
these things so that they will not be charged with ungodliness by the
world. And tell them says Paul that if a man does not provide by
honest daily work for his own family then he has denied ‘the faith’
and he is worse than an unbeliever. Faith in Christ does not abolish
our ordinary family duties but strengthens them. Godliness is not
just what a man thinks but what he does. Do not let a widow be taken
into the financial care of the congregation under 60 years of age and
she must have lived an honourable life in marriage and godly
christian living. This will be seen in the way she brought up her
children, in acts of hospitality, in service to Gods people, in her
kindness to those in distress and in her consistent life of good
works. But do not allow financial help to the younger widows because
when they begin to grow in sexual desire and desire after excess and
luxury they will be in opposition to Christ and they are determined
to marry and they will come into discipline because they have
forsaken their pledge to serve Christ. And so they become curious
about other people and they wander about from home to home not just
in idleness but they talk about silly things and are very busy
interfering in other people’s affairs and saying things that are
inappropriate. These younger widows should marry again, have
children, rule their own houses and give no opportunity to the Devil
to speak accusations about them. Some have already turned away to do
Satan’s work. If any believer has a mother that is a widow then
they should provide for their needs so that the church is not
responsible and this will enable the church to look after those
widows who are very poor indeed. Let those elders who do their work
well be given double the financial support, especially those who work
very hard in teaching the scriptures. The Law said that, ‘the Ox
that treads the corn is not to be prevented from eating the fruit of
his labour’. All labourers are worthy of their hire. Do not listen
to any accusation against an elder unless it is based on two or three
reliable witnesses. Those elders that sin are to be rebuked before
the whole congregation so that the fear of the Lord might come on all
who hear it. I give you Timothy a solemn responsibility before God,
Christ and his holy angels, that you do these things with complete
impartiality. Do ordain a man in impulse because you must not join in
ministry with those who are ungodly. You will be tainted by their
reputation. Paul says on a personal note - Timothy, do not drink only
water but take a small amount of wine for your digestion and general
health. Lastly he says, things are not always what they appear. Take
care because some men’s sins are obvious to all but others are
hidden and in the same way some men’s good works are plain to see
but others only come out later.
- How should believers treat the Elders that God has given to the church?
- What sorts of difficult people does Paul describe in the Church?
- What solemn duty does Paul give to Timothy?
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