1 TIMOTHY 5:1-7 - TAKE CARE OF THE "FAMILYSHIP"

1 Timothy 5:1-7

TAKE CARE OF

THE “FAMILYSHIP”

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.

Susan: As a pastor, Timothy should treat the members as he would his own family.

Susie: The word “rebuke” has a connotation of correcting sharply. If a person was found in sin, Timothy was to gently encourage and strengthen them to turn from sin and back to the Lord.

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Susan: In dealing with the members of his congregation, he should keep his relationships upright and above board. His words and actions with them should be such that they could never cause suspicion.

1 Timothy 5:3-4 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 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.

Susie: The church is supposed to honor, take care of, widows. However, if a widow has children, grandchildren, or other close relatives, those people should take care of her.

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.

Susan: Parents have raised their children, so the children should be there to care for them in their time of need. Some parents do not do a stellar job raising their children. However, there is a blessing for those children to honor them by caring for them anyway.

Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

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.

Susie: A widow who truly has no family to support her and no means of her own, must place her trust in God for everything. Her prayers to Him are answered by the church caring for her needs.

1 Timothy 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

Susan: A widow who is living a corrupt lifestyle is spiritually dead and perhaps never had a relationship with the Lord.

Susie: This is a picture of a widow who willfully lives immorally, trusting in the world instead of the Lord.

Susan: She is self-indulgent and looking for immediate gratification.

1 Timothy 5:7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

Susie: These rules about caring for widows and who is considered a true widow were to be set as standards. Timothy was to give instruction concerning them so that the widows and those who should be caring for them would not be accused of impropriety. Paul will expound upon this theme in the next lesson.

1. How should a pastor handle the correction of a church member who is sinning?

2.  Who should be the first in line to take care of a widow before the church begins to help her? Why?

3. The church was to take care of widows, but in reality, who is it who watches out for them?