INTRODUCTION: HAVE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF OBLIGATION YOU HAVE
TO THE POOR? THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS IS A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS. YOU
READ ALL SORTS OF ARTICLES ABOUT THEM IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND OTHER
PUBLICATIONS. IN LINE WITH THE POST THE WIFE OF THE EDITOR OF THE REVIEW
CAME TO TALK TO US A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT
SHE WAS SUGGESTING THAT WE TROT DOWN TO DC AND HELP THE HOMELESS THAT I
AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL SEEN IN DC. WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE WE ALL
RUSHED DOWN TO DC SHE MIGHT CONSIDER PAUL’S WRITINGS THAT WE ARE STUDYING
TODAY, SHE ESSENTIALLY ASKED ME WHAT KIND OF NEANDERTHAL I WAS. BECAUSE
I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT IT IS FAIRLY COMMON THAT SOMEONE WILL ASK ME FOR MONEY.
IT REALLY BOTHERS ME WHETHER I SHOULD GIVE MONEY, SO SOMETIMES I DO AND
SOMETIMES I DON’T. SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL WITH ME WERE KIDDING ME
NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT I GAVE MONEY TO THE PANHANDLER WHO SAID, “GOD
BLESS YOU” AND DIDN’T TO THOSE THAT DID NOT SAY THOSE “MAGIC
WORDS.” THIS WEEK WE LOOK AT PAUL’S ADIVCE TO TIMOTHY ON HOW WE SHOULD
TREAT OTHERS IN THE CHURCH AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY LOOK HOW PAUL SAYS
THE CHURCH SHOULD DEAL WITH THOSE IN NEED.
I. HOW TO TREAT OTHERS IN THE CHURCH.
A. READ 1TIM 5:1-2. WHAT ARE THE GROUPS THAT ARE LISTED HERE? (OLDER
MEN, YOUNGER MEN, OLDER WOMEN AND YOUNGER WOMEN.)
B. DOES THAT ABOUT COVER THE WATERFRONT?
C. TIMOTHY WAS A YOUNG MAN. WHAT WOULD BE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM WITH
CORRECTING AN OLDER MAN? (RESENT IT.) 1. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR YOUNGER
MEN? OLDER WOMEN? YOUNGER WOMEN?
D. IN A NUTSHELL, HOW SHOULD WE TREAT THESE GROUPS? (LIKE FAMILY)
E. DO WE TREAT OUR FAMILY WORSE THAN WE TREAT OTHERS? WHAT DOES PAUL
SUGGEST IS APPROPRIATE? (RESPECT AND LOVE)
1. NOTICE THE FOOTNOTE GIVEN TO “YOUNGER WOMEN:” THAT THEY
BE TREATED WITH “ABSOLUTE PURITY.”
2. WHY DO YOU THINK PAUL ADDED THIS CLAUSE? (BECAUSE IT IS SO EASY TO
CROSS THE LINE INTO IMPROPER CONDUCT WITH YOUNGER WOMEN WHEN YOU ARE THE
SPIRITUAL LEADER. BOTH MINISTRY AND CT HAD ARTICLES ON THIS. IT IS COMMON
THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS IN A POSITION TO CONSOLE (PSYCHIATRISTS, MED. DOCTORS,
DIVORCE LAWYERS, MINISTERS) THAT THESE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS ARE EASY TO
MAKE.)
II. HELPING THOSE IN NEED: WIDOWS
A. READ 1 TIM 5:3-8. THE OT OFTEN MAKES REFERENCE TO BEING FAIR WITH
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. (EX.22:22; DEUT. 24:17-19-21 (GLEANING LAWS); PS 68:5;
IS. 1:17; JAMES 1:27) PAUL IS GIVING TIMOTHY INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CARE OF
WIDOWS.
1. WHO HAS THE FIRST LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR A WIDOW? (HER FAMILY.)
2. IN A MINUTE WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO THE ISSUE OF WHICH WIDOWS SHOULD
BE HELPED. IT SEEMS THAT PAUL IS SAYING THAT IF A WIDOW HAS FAMILY SHE
IS NOT A REAL WIDOW (v.5), AND THEREFORE HER FAMILY AND NOT THE CHURCH
SHOULD HELP.
3. PAUL SAYS THAT WE SHOULD REPAY OUR PARENTS AND OUR GRANDPARENTS BY
HELPING THEM. WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE MENTIONS REPAYMENT?
4. IN v. 8 HE SAYS THAT IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY THAT
YOU HAVE DENIED THE FAITH AND ARE WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER. WHY IS THAT?
(1. PROBABLY BECAUSE EVEN UNBELIEVERS TAKE CARE OF THEIR MOTHERS, SO THEY
WOULD BE LESS THAN UNBELIEVERS. 2. BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PRETENSE OF LOVING
BUT ARE NOT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CLEAR CLAIM TO YOUR HELP.)
5. IF A WIDOW DOES NOT HAVE A RELATIVE TO DEPEND UPON, WHO DOES PAUL
SAY SHOULD HELP HER? (THE CHURCH — US.)
B. LETS READ ON. FOR PAUL GIVES INSTRUCTIONS ON WHICH WIDOWS THE CHURCH
SHOULD BE HELPING. READ v.9-10.
C. WHAT MUST A WIDOW DO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HELP FROM THE CHURCH?
(1. BE OVER 60.
2. HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND. (PROBABLY MEANS THAT SHE HAS NOT
REMARRIED SINCE HE DIED. BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT IF SHE HAD MORE THAN ONE
HUSBAND SHE WOULD HAVE MORE FAMILY TO RELY UPON.)
3. WELL KNOWN FOR GOOD DEEDS (AND THEN HE LISTS GOOD DEEDS THAT QUALIFY.))
D. LETS LOOK AT THIS LIST IN MORE DETAIL:
1. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REASON FOR NOT PUTTING YOUNGER WIDOWS ON
THE ROLE? (APPARENTLY THE IDEA IS THAT YOUNGER WOMEN CAN AND SHOULD TAKE
CARE OF THEMSELVES. PROBABLY 60 REPRESENTS THE CULTERAL NORM FOR “OLD
AGE.”
2. WHAT REASON FOR BEING FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND? (SHOW GOOD CHARACTER.)
3. WHAT REASON BE KNOWN FOR GOOD DEEDS? (LOOKS LIKE PAUL BELIEVES THAT
PEOPLE EARN THE RIGHT TO BE HELPED. AND IF YOU DON’T EARN THE RIGHT TO
HELP, YOU DON’T GET IT.)
E. NOW LETS APPLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS TO THE POPULAR WASHINGTON POST
IDEA THAT WE SHOULD ROAM THE STREETS OF DC HELPING THE HOMELESS.
1. DO YOU THINK THAT PAUL WOULD APPROVE OF THE GENERAL SUPPORT (NOT
EMERGENCY) OF A HOMELESS PERSON WHOSE CHARACTER WAS NOT KNOWN TO THE CHURCH?
2. WOULD YOUNG MEN (MUCH LESS MEN) EVER BE ELIGBLE FOR SUPPORT? (APPEAR
NOT IF THEY COULD WORK.)
3. WOULD THE HOMELESS WHO HAD NO CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND BE ELIGIBLE FOR
SUPPORT?
4. LETS PUT THIS ANOTHER WAY: IF A WIDOW COULD WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
SUPPORT IF SHE WAS UNDER 60, WOULD A MAN UNDER 60 BE ELIGIBLE?
5. IF A CHURCH WIDOW WHO WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND WAS NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR SUPPORT, WOULD A MAN WHOSE CHARACTER IS NOT KNOWN BE ELIGIBLE?
6. IF A CHURCH WIDOW WHO IS NEEDY, BUT HAS NOT DONE GOOD DEEDS IS NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT, WOULD A MAN WHO APPEARS TO HAVE SINFUL TRAITS BE
ELIGIBLE?
F. READ 11-14. PAUL SAYS THAT WHEN THE YOUNGER WIDOWS WANT TO MARRY
THEY BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN THEIR FIRST
PLEDGE. BUT HE ALSO COUNSELS THE YOUNGER WIDOWS TO MARRY.
1. WHAT IS UP?
2. HOW CAN HE SAY BOTH OF THESE THINGS? (HE PROBABLY IS TALKING ABOUT
MARRIAGE TO AN UNBELIEVER. (“THEIR SENSUAL DESIRE OVERCOMES THEIR
DEDICATION TO CHRIST”v.11) AND THEREFORE THE PLEDGE THAT THEY BREAK
IS TO GOD.)
III. NEXT WEEK: STUDY THE REST OF CHPT 5. WE WILL DISCUSS CHURCH LEADERS
NEXT WEEK.
THAT THEY BREAK
IS TO GOD.)
III. NEXT WEEK: STUDY THE REST OF CHPT 5. WE WILL DISCUSS CHURCH LEADERS
NEXT WEEK.
