Paul’s Instruction To Timothy.

In the Book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes to his young apprentice, Timothy who has recently become the pastoral overseer of the Ephesian Church.

In chapter 5, Paul gives Timothy some instruction on how to serve and care for the Elderly, including widows. Let’s break this down, beginning in verse 3 then working through to verse 8

“3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.“

Verse 3 is pretty straightforward: “Give (widows in need) proper recognition…” Widows who are in need deserve proper recognition.

Proper Recognition (Vs. 3)

Recognition is defined as “an act of recognizing or the state of being recognized.” (Dictionary.com) If we were walking downtown and we recognised someone we knew, we wouldn’t ignore them.

We give them the proper recognition that they’re due, because of our relationship. The concept here is that a widow in need should never be ignored.

Sure, the easier option is to pretend that we didn’t see them or that we didn’t see their need. And yet, according to this verse, that is not the response God desires for us to take.

A widow in need should always be given proper recognition; always be acknowledged.

What About Widowers?

As a side note, maybe the thought has crossed your mind, “What about widowers (or men who have been widowed)?“

This is a Bible versus culture situation.

This passage was written at a time and in a culture where men worked and women stayed at home. There were very few opportunities for single women to earn a living, so meeting needs without a husband was very difficult.

In contrast, a husband who lost his wife (though a sorrowful event and not to sound harsh), but had one less person to feed and clothe, so financially he was taken care of. This is why Paul makes no reference of caring for widowers.

That said, when we bring this passage into our present culture, we need to be careful not to make an assumption that a widower has any more or less comfort or resources than a widow.

Family Care (Vs. 4)

Getting back to our passage, how can a widow obtain proper recognition, well it starts with family. Check out verse 4:

“4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.“

Here’s another collision of Biblical instruction and a trend in our 2016 Western Culture.

Last week, we highlighted the season of Retirement. We acknowledged how for many grandparents in our society, retirement is no longer an option because they’re financially supporting their children and grandchildren.

This verse highlights how backwards our culture has become from Biblical principle. The Biblical concept is that children and grandchildren should be financially stable and prepared to support their elderly and eventually, widowed parent.

Unfortunately, our addiction to consumerism and willingness to bring on debt in order to get whatever we want (convince ourselves we need), our parents are not only left out to dry; but often forced into situations, financially providing for us.

If I’m to read this passage correctly, there is a huge warning here for any adult children who are packing on consumer debt.

In Need Or Pleasure (Vs. 5-6)

Here we see two different situations. Let’s get the stern warning in verse 6 out-of-the-way first.

“6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.“

There are widows (or widowers) who attempt to work through their loss by replaced the loneliness, by living for pleasure or as the ESV states, being “…self-indulgent…“

That pleasure or self-indulgence may be alcohol, food, shopping, flighty or promiscuous relationships, and a wide variety of other things, depending on the person.

It’s not that these things are bad, but there’s a difference between pleasure (or enjoying something) and living for pleasure. A life of pleasure and self-indulgence is fleeting. So much so, that Paul refers to them as already “…being dead…“

Now let’s jump back up to verse 5:

“5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.“

These are widows (or widowers) who work through the loss of their spouse by deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ. In Luke chapter 2, we read of one such widow:

“22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’)…

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah…

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

This woman whose husband died at a young age, chose to devote her life to the Lord. How many people told her she was crazy? How many people told her she should just get married again?

Now at 84 years old it all pays off, being at the right place at the right time, she saw the Messiah before she died. That evening, as she walked home, I’m sure the years of waiting and watching, praying and fasting, were all worth it!

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

In 1 Timothy 5, Paul puts great emphasis on families caring for their widowed family members. From your perspective, how is that playing out in our culture?