1 Timothy 5:1-16

1 Timothy 5:1-16

Timothy is leading a very large organization and, as such, has to deal with economic and social issues. The issue of widows consumes about 15 verses and is an indication of the church forming its response to the social issues of widowed women and their support. While it would take books to address in detail all that Paul has to say here, a few general principles come to light.

Number one, it is God's intention that the social safety net for the aged is the family. This is especially true for widowed women. If the widow has any relatives at all, it is assumed that they should care for her.

Number two, it is assumed that the primary means of support for women is found in the context of marriage and children. Certainly women at this time worked for profit, but their primary focus was the home. The woman who invested and her children had a retirement plan far better than any 401k or IRA. Children and grandchildren would care for her.

Number three: a faith community’s care for widows was a possibility but also a rarity. The word “honor” in verse 3 means support from the common fund. This indicates that the church cared for some widows. However, these women met stringent qualifications of destitution with no family, a history of Godly behavior, apparently some role or commitment of service in the faith community to which they were obligated until death, and they were too old to remarry. This is not an exhaustive list but indicates that a ‘need’ is not by itself sufficient reason to receive aid.

Number four: financial aid is both compassionate and tender and, at the same time, calculating and shrewd. Benevolence is too often given based on the emotion of the moment and sentimentalism. That is a recipe for ruin. The care from the Church must be tender but never naive.

Paul seems to envision a social context in which what a person can do for themselves, they must do for themselves. But if they can't care for themselves, they should turn to their family. If that is not a possibility, then the church can provide the appropriate care. In this passage you will find that more verses deal with not placing widows on the care list than verses that address putting a widow on such a list. In the American church, we have narrowed the meaning of care with giving money. That is a concept foreign to the scriptures.

“Lord, help me to be wise and tender in the care of those in need.  AMEN”