TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY 1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY

1 TIMOTHY 5: 1 - 8

 

    Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.  Treat younger men as brothers, (2) older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

   (3) Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.  (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.  (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.  (6) But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.  (7) Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.  (8) If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION BIBLE STUDY COMMENTARY

   The Apostle Paul said Christian families were to be as self-supporting as possible.  He insisted that children and grandchildren take care of the widows in their families.  The church has always had to balance financial responsibility with generosity.  It only makes sense for church members to work as hard as they can and to be as independent as possible, so they can adequately care for themselves and for less fortunate members.  When church members are both responsible and generous, everyone's needs will be met.

   The responsibility for caring for the helpless naturally falls first on their families, the people whose lives are most closely linked with theirs.  Paul stresses the importance of families caring for the needs of widows, and not leaving it for the church.  The church should support those who have no families and should also help the elderly, young, disabled, ill, or poverty-stricken with their emotional and spiritual needs.

MY THOUGHTS

   This is just a good time to remember that God expects you to care for your own families, and to do it with respect.  First your families, then your church.  There is also something else that is expected of you:  respect.  Respect yourself enough to be self-supporting if you are able bodied.  Do not expect anyone else to support you. If someone else is supporting you and you are able to work, then YOU are robbing God when they re-direct their tithes for your support.

   This reminds me of the time when Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. (Matthew 15: 2 - 6) They were asking Jesus why His disciples were breaking the law of the elders by not washing before they ate.  Jesus asked them why THEY were breaking God's law:

   (4) "For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'  (5) But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' (6) he is not to 'honor his father' with it.  Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."

   Jesus confirmed that you take care of your family FIRST.  It is always nice to be able to take care of both your family AND your church.

What are your thoughts?

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