Supporting Widows

1Timothy 5-Part 2
Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family, and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.   1 Timothy 5:3-4


LET IT GLOW

She needed a car, so we gave her our red Citation to use. Later on, Mom came to visit us (in another part of the state) and we took her used car shopping. She made a good choice and that one lasted her for the rest of her days. Her worn out couch needed replacing, so we gave her ours, with a hid-a-bed. Not only did it provide us with a place to sleep when we came for a visit, it also gave her a nice couch to sit on. There were few things we could give her to meet her needs. Mom had a good retirement income from her work at the local post office and dad's cattle herd. She lived comfortably  in the only house they bought for the last ten years of her life, as a widow. Family takes care of family. Mom had watched over her dad, my dad watched over his dad, both after my grandmas passed away.
Do you have any widows or widowers in your family?

"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," states James 1:27.

What is acceptable in God's sight?
In chapter 5, we read about two types of widows: those who had relatives to care for them and those who had no living family members. Those who had family were to receive support from their family. Caring for one's own family should have high priority in a Christian's life. (Shepherd's Notes)

KJV uses the word nephews, ekgonos in Greek, which meant descendant, usually a grandson. If widows had descendants it was their obligation to care for these widows.

Piety means reverence toward God; devoutness. (Webster's Dictionary)

Honor means to show respect or care, to support, or to treat graciously. Although it includes meeting all kinds of needs, Paul had in mind here not only this broad definition, but primarily fincancial support.

MacArthur Bible Commentary states:

Children and grandchildren are indebted to those who brought them into the world, reared them, and loved them. Fulfilling this responsibility is a mark of godly obedience (Ex. 20:12).

If a relative is unwilling to help support his loved one, then He is worse than an unbeliever (verse 8).

Are we obeying this command concerning widows in our family?


LET IT GROW

Meeting the needs of a desolate widow, as was the responsibility of the church, had some requriements for her to meet according to Paul:

• She trusted in God; a Christian giving herself to spiritual matters. She's a part of this fellowship.
• She gave herself to supplication and prayers, interceeding for others, not in a gossiping way.
• She is at least 60 years old. (In that day, she was unlikely to remarry at that age.)
• She had a good marriage record; not divorced.
• She is a witness of good works; a humble servant of our Lord; a Christian mother; cared for the needy-hungry, sick, sorrowing; hospitable.

If she was a widow indeed and had no family to care for her, this responsibility fell upon the church.
Paul urges the church to show respect, compassion, and responsibilit concerning the widow who was a widow indeed.

Is our church doing this?


LET IT GO

Support family widows or widowers.

Encourage the church supporting them.

How we Treat our Family

1 Timothy 5-Part 1
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.
1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT


LET IT GLOW

I grew up the youngest of three children, with an older brother and sister. Dad and Mom stayed married until his death. If my calculations are correct, they were married 46 years. I was a very sensitive child, so I didn't require much discipline. However, one time, I ran away from Mom, who was going to discipline me. (I didn't think she would run after me.) Now that was a mistake on my part. She ran after me, caught me, and did I learn not to repeat that behavior again! My seat became the focus of correction, and rightfully so. Looking back, I felt loved and knew my boundaries. Really, I didn't give my parents too many problems. I respected them. My siblings spoiled me since there is 7 and 10 years difference between them and me.

Each of us grew up in a different family. That's where our early attitudes toward God, others, and self were formed. Hopefully, we learned to respect our father, love our mother, and obey them both, since they had our best in mind. Of course, we all got along with our brothers and sisters. (I heard that comment.)

Paul is giving Timothy some advice about how to treat various kinds of people in the church, not showing partiality (verse 21). The church is a family. Since Timothy was a younger man, he might ignore or slight the older members, so Paul encouraged him to love and serve all ages of people.

Do I show partiality to people my age and slight the older and younger ones? More importantly, do they feel like I do?


LET IT GROW

Paul says to treat the older members like your father and mother, and the younger ones like your brothers and sisters.
First, Paul address treatment of the older men. Rebuke not is the phrase he used. This is the only place it occurs in the New Testament.
Rebuke means to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid. (Thayer's Lexicon)
It describes a verbal pounding. Such treatment would show no appreciation for age. (Shepherd's Notes)
So an older sinning believer is to be shown respect by not being addressed with harsh words (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Here, the older men is referred to in generallity, not the office of an elder. Even as one is correcting an older man, he is to be honored, respected (Lev. 19:32). They should not be rebuked with harsh words, but entreated as a family member.

Entreat means admonish, exhort. In Greek, parakletos, refers to coming alongside someone to help. Exhort relates to the title of the Holy Spirit. We are to strengthen our fellow believers in the same way the Scripture and the Holy Spirit do.

The second group Paul talks about is the young men. They are to be talked to as brothers.

The third  group was the older women to be treated as mothers.

The fourth group was the younger women to be treated as sisters, both with purity.
Purity means sinless of life.
God's servants must be so discreet. Any impropriety (especially with women) can and has ruined many a pastor's ministry. Impropriety is an improper action. (Liberty Bible Commentary)
Abstain from all appearance of evil says 1 Thessalonians 5:22.


LET IT GO

Treat others in my church family as my family members.

For the Sake of Progress

1 Timothy 4-Part 7
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:15

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. (NLT)


LET IT GLOW

They say it's for the sake of progress that things happen. A big chain store comes into our small community, resulting in a local store closing. Is that progress? What has been achieved by it? Is it progress for an airport to buy up land from local farmers in order to better serve the community? Now we hear planes going over at all hours, on my country road. It's progress for us to have a 4-lane highway connecting our small towns. Maybe it's for convenience for truckers of a large chain of stores. Well, lest I sound like I'm against progress, I'm not. Items are cheaper to buy; it's closer to the airport; it's faster driving on the bigger highway (passing semi trucks).
There are advantages to "progress." (Just let it happen to someone else's small town.) Sound familiar?

Do I want my life to show evidience of progress toward Christlikeness? Yes, but how does it happen? Paul tells Timothy here in this chapter 4.

Meditate means " to care for," according to Thayer's Lexicon. Paul wants Timothy to care for these things he has said previously. How important are they? He said for Timothy to give himself wholly, completely to them. Why? So everyone will see it.
"His progress toward Christlikeness will be evident to all," states MacArthur Bible Commentary.

Devote yourself fully to Christ. Timothy's spiritual life and ministry were to be the absorbing, controlling things in his life, not merely sidelines that he occasionally practiced. (Wiersbe)
"No man can serve two masters" (Matt. 6:24).


Shall we reveiw what "these things" are?

*Live as a spiritual example of what a believer truly can be. (verses 7-12)
*Apply himself to reading, preaching, and teaching.(verse 13)
*Don't neglect the spiritual gift received. (verse 14)
*Be consistent in spiritual growth. (verse 15)


LET IT GROW

Verse 12b says, Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (NLT)

Verse 16 says in NLT, Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Every now and then I need to examine my own heart in light of God's Word. Also, when I do, be truthful. God knows all things anyway. Don't neglect my own spiritual walk while helping others.

"Moral problems, divorces, and other kinds of shameful conduct have destroyed many of God's servants," stated Wiersbe.
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall," says 1 Corinthians 10:12.

Am I a good servant, teaching the Word; a godly servant, practicing the Word; and a growing servant, progressing in the Word?


LET IT GO

Study and apply the Word to my life.

Take spiritual inventory often.

What do I need to let go of so God can use me for His glory?

Obey.

Dusty Dishes

1 Timothy 4-Part 6 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.   1 Timothy 4:14


LET IT GLOW

Last December, I bought my daughter a set of beautiful dishes for serving dessert and refreshments at Christmas time. Because she lives so far away, shipping them to her was out of the question. (I don't want to risk  breakage.) Therefore, the dishes sit boxed in a tub, which is collecting dust in my storage building. They were not used last Christmas and won't be used again this year (unless she moves closer). My gift is not benefiting anyone, is it? So it can be with my spiritual gifts. If I neglect to use them in the church, my spiritual gifts are benefiting no one. Let's see what Paul tells Timothy about it.

"The word gift is the Greek word charisma. It simply means "a gracious gift from God." Every Christian has the gift of the Spirit (Rom. 8:9) and at least one gift from the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). The gift of the Spirit, and the gifts from the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) are bestowed by God at the moment of conversion

(1 Cor. 12:13). (Wiersbe's Be Faithful)

Timothy's gift was leadership with special emphasis on preaching and teaching. His gift was identified by a revelation from God and apostolic confirmation. (MacArthur)

Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary states this:


There is a difference of opinion as to whether this (neglect not) meant stop neglecting or don't start neglecting the gift. An entrusted spiritual gift is not to be put under a bushel (Matt. 5:15) nor hid in the earth but put to use. Every Christian is gifted (1 Peter 4:10) and needs to heed this admonition.

In other words, Paul is saying, "Don't let your spiritual gift go to waste."

After spending a couple of years getting my health straightened out, I am now finally able to get back to teaching children at my church. We have children's church for the younger children and I began teaching them. I enjoy doing it and hopefully they will learn some basics of our faith.

Are we being faithful in serving the Lord and others with our spiritual gifts He has given us, or are they collecting dust as my dishes are?


LET IT GO

What do I need to let go of so I will be faithful in using my spiritual gifts? Probably my time for prepartion
to teach God's Word.

Don't neglect using my gifts as the servant did in Matthew 25.

Squeezing Sponges

1 Timothy 4-Part 5
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 
1 Timothy 4:13 KJV

Until I come, give your attention to public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and teaching. NAS


LET IT GLOW


It had been a while since I sat in my porch swing early in the morning, reading God's Word all alone. How refreshing it was, the coolness of the morning, listening to birds sing His continual praises. Usually, I begin in Psalm 1, but this day I began wigh Paslm 100-Make a joyful noice unto the Lord, all ye lands. How long has it been? My heart burst out joyful singing and giving of thanks. He is my Creator, Lord. He is good and His mercy is everlasting. His truth endureth to all generations. Yes, He is.
It is refreshing to get away from all the noice a household provides. Just to listen to His Spirit.

How many years, decades, have I spent listening to preaching in God's house? A few years as a child and a youth. Almost  40 as an adult; but there were years of straying away during that time.
And what did I learn sitting, listening to His Word?
Did It make a difference in my life? I think so. After all this time and hearing many pastors preach, I am still striving to remain faithful to my Lord Jesus. Am I like a sponge, absorbing God's Word?
How closely am I listening to the reading of God's Word? Now I take notes on what is being said.
Do I let His Spirit speak to my spirit through Scriptures? After all, He preserved His Word in order to speak and instruct me.
Lord Jesus, give me a hunger for Your Word. James 1:22 states, But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jeremiah 9:20 says, Listen, you women, to the words of the Lord; open your ears to what He has to say.

Psalm 25:4-5 says, Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Psalm 86:11 says, Teach me thy way, O Lord, my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Psalm 143:8 says, Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

I looked up the word listen in Young's Concordence and only found one verse in which it was used. Then I looked up the word hear and found 4 large pages listing the scriptures in which the word is used. So what's the difference in listening and hearing?
Webster's Dictionary defines listen as try to hear; give heed; be compliant. Hear means listen to; give attention to; be informed of; be told; learn by report. Stop. Paul disn't say listen or hear the Word. What did he say? Give attendance. What is that in today's words?

"Give attendance to" means "devote yourself to, be absorbed in." Ministering the Word was not something Timothy was to do after he had done other things; it was to be the most important thing he did. (Wiersbe)

How important is God's Word to me? How devoted am I to It? Am I absorbed in it?
Absorb means take in, engulf, according to Webster. A sponge comes to my mind when I read the word absorb. Am I only absorbing and not letting out the Word? Does God have to "put the squeese on me" before I let it out, teaching others? Guilty.

Word of God speak. Pour down like rain, washing my eyes to see, Your Majesty. To be still and know, that You're in this place. Please let me stay and rest in Your Holiness. Word of God speak. (Forgive me if I misquoted.)


 LET IT GROW

These things were to be Timothy's constant practice, his way of life.

Reading refers to the custom of reading of Scripture in the church's worship service, followed by the exposition of the passage that had been read (Neh. 8:1-8; Luke 4:16-27). Remember, they didn't possess Bibles as we do nowdays. REading of the law and the Prophets was always in the Jewish synagogues. This practice carried over into Christian churches. Jesus read the Scriptures in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16) and Paul often read the lessons when he visited a synagogue (Acts 13:15).

Exhoration challenges those who hear the Word to apply it in their daily lives. It may involve rebuke, warnig, encouragement, or comfort. It's the application of teaching. "It is the grounding in the truth for belief that affects behavior," is a quote from Liberty Bible Commentary. The pastor was to read the Word, explain it, and apply it.

Doctrine (teaching) refers to systematic instruction from the Word of God (Titus 1:9). It's the basis of Christian belief. "Experience" is quick and easily gotten, but doctrine takes time and a great deal of effort. Doctrinally weak believers are immature believers.
[References: MacArthur Bible Commentary, Liberty Bible Commentary, Be Faithful by W.W.Wiersbe]


LET IT GO

Absorb the Word of God.

Apply the word of God to my life. Be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer only.

Remain faithful to the doctrines of the Bible.

Youth

1 Timothy 4-Part 4
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.    1 Timothy 4:12


LET IT GLOW

My husband often says that life is wasted on youth. But who wants to go back to acne, peer pressure, or competition? Yes, I could have used some wisdom in my decisions I made as a young person, but would it have changed anything? If I had not married at 18 nor waited to enter college at 25, then I would not have my two children; I would not have become an elementary teacher; I would not have experienced God's provisions by moving away from family. So youth will be youth. I'm enjoying middle age. Well, maybe the top of the hill is around the next corner. Sometimes I need a hand to pull me up. Got one?
How important is age in the scope of things? If we are following God's leading, does it matter what age we are? Perhaps it does in the eyes of people. Wisdom comes through experience, age, so they say. Does age matter in God's perspective? I wonder.

Timothy had begun well in obeying God's commands. Paul desired that he continue in the path he had started in order to provide an example for others. Was Timothy a timid young man. It could hinder him from making a bold assertion of Christian truth. Paul warned Timothy to speak with authority. He wanted Timothy to teach these things (verse 11). (Shepherd's Notes)

This Greek culture placed great value on age and experience. Since Timothy was in his thirties, still young by the standards of that culture, he would have to earn respect by being a godly example. Because he had been with Paul since a young teenager, Timothy had much experience to mature him, so that looking down on him because he was under forty was inexcusable. (MacArthur Bible Commentary)

This is a great verse to give encouragement to youth serving the Lord. Today, I don't consider "youth" as being 30-40 years old. A person in their 20's is still  young to me, for they lack the experience that life gives. However, to the elders at Ephesus, Timothy was but a youth.

Do I find myself not listening to a young person simply because they are young? Hmm. Do I discern if they are led by the Lord? Do I look down on those younger than I am?


LET IT GROW

The wise youth will be an example of believers so as to earn the respect of his elders. Example (typos in Greek) is a pattern, type or model.
Thayer's Lexicon states an example is to be imitated: of men worthy of imitation.
Exercising ourselves in godly living is not only profitable for us, but for others. It enables us to be good examples so we encourage others.

Paul named six areas of life in which Timothy was to be an example to the church:

* in word-Our speech should always be honest and loving; speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15);
                 Matt. 12:34-37; Eph 4:25, 29, 31;

* in conversation-conduct, behavior,  righteous living; walk not talk, suggests that our lives are to be
                              controlled by the Word of God. (Titus 2:10; 1 Peter 1:15, 2:12, 3:16)

* in charity-love points to the motivation of our lives. Because we love God, we love people. Love in a self-
                    sacrificial service for others (John 15:13)

*in spirit-the inner enthusiasm and excitement of a child of God.

*in faith-trusting God and being faithful to Him, committed (1 Cor. 4:2). Faith always leads to faithfulness.

*in purity-staying pure in mind, heart, and body; pure in motives and actions; especially sexual purity.

[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, MacArthur Bible Commentary, Wiersbe's Be Faithful]

Godly living not only helps us and other believers, it influences the lost. However, it isn't enough to live a godly life before the lost, but we must also share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, explaining salvation.

Am I living by God's standards?


LET IT GO

Listen to what youth have to say.

Be an example in my words and  life.

Let love, faith, and purity be found in me.

Working to the Point of Exhaustion

337.  " Working to the Point of Exhaustion" 
             Sept. 1, 2011  
                   
1 Timothy 4-Part 3
For therefore we both labor and suffer repreach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. 1 Timothy 4:10


LET IT GLOW

I remember the day our only daughter got married. The church was in a city where she and her husband-to-be  had graduated from college the week earlier and was not where we lived. There was a lot to do that day-pick up flowers and the cake, make punch, decorate for the reception, then get myself dressed. Whew! Makes me tired just remembering.
After the ceremony and reception, we were the clean-up crew. Thankfully, her inlaws and friends helped, too. Needless to say, I was tired and exhausted when I finally fell into bed that night. (Everything turned out wonderful, though, in my labor of love.)

Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say:

Paul says that we labor because we trust in the living God. The Greek word for labor is kopiao, which means to work at it to the point of exhaustion as athletes do. Did you ever watch football players practice and exercise like this? To pay such a price for godliness is done because we trust in the living God.

Thayer's Lexicon states the definition of labor in this verse is to toil; to labor with wearisome effort.

Am I laboring for Jesus to the point of exhaustion? Am I toiling to do His will?


LET IT GLOW

Not only did Paul say they labored because they trusted in the living God, but he said they also suffered reproach. Reproach is a charge with a fault. We know that Paul was in prison because of his preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, which offended nonbelievers. (NAS and CSB use the word strive instead of reproach.)

Paul trusted in the living God. Trust means to direct hope unto one.
"Believers are saved in hope, and live and serve in light of that hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2, 3:7). Working to the point of exhaustion and suffering rejection and persecution are acceptable because believers understand they are doing God's work," states MacArthur Bible Commentary.

My trust is in the living God. Is yours?


LET IT GO

Labor and  suffer because I trust in my living God.

Keep eternal life in my thoughts.