1 Timothy 5:3, 4 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 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.
It is probably the mention of how Timothy should relate to older women that leads Paul on to speak about widows. Timothy has a responsibility to Give proper recognition to ... widows but only those who are really in need. There seems to have been a list in those days of people who were helped by the church and who helped the church. Today things are different but the need to give proper recognition to those who work in the church continues. Some will be paid staff (ministers, assistant ministers, caretakers, secretaries, musicians) others will act voluntarily (deacons, cleaners, caterers, musicians, etc) but ought to be thanked. What Paul is guarding against here is putting people on the list who should not be on it. If a widow has children or grandchildren, he says 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. The danger of simply relying on the church to provide money and other physical benefits is a real one and must be avoided. If a church employs staff, it needs to consider whether things can be trimmed down. People must recognise the voluntary principle, especially where their own families are concerned. This is an outworking of the doves and serpents principle that Jesus iterates in the context of mission in Matthew 10.
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