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 are to 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?

You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com  and http://omaslife.blogspot.com.

COMMANDMENT # 5 EXODUS 20: 12

COMMANDMENT # 5

   Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  Exodus 20:12  (NIV)

 LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY



   This is the first commandment with a promise attached.  To live in peace for generations in the promised land, the Israelites would need to respect authority and build strong families.  But what does it mean to "honor" parents:  Partly, it means speaking well of them and politely to them.  It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey them if this means disobedience to God).  It means following their teaching and example of putting God first.  Parents have a special place in God's sight.  Even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them.

  

MY THOUGHTS

   My problem is with the "father and mother" thing.  I have a problem fitting today's society into God's plan.  Webster defines a "mother" as a female parent.  Webster defines a "father" as a man who has begotten a child.  Answers.com defines "parent" as one who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures or raises a child. 

   Decades ago, parents got divorced on grounds of adultery or abuse or abandonment.  Today, parents don't even get married.  Today we have "friends with benefits" and both parents may not even be aware they are parents.  We also did not have homosexuals who were allowed by the courts to adopt children.  Where did we go wrong?  How can we get back to the place where we should be?

   None of today's societal ills absolve us of our duty to God or this commandment.  We are still to honor our father and mother.  Note that the father is listed first, as he is the head of the household.

    John MacArthur says, "The key to societal stability is reverence and respect for parents and their authority."  That respect and reverence transfers to those in position of authority.  Mystery Babylon has infiltrated our schools, government, and even our homes.  We believe those who preach evolution, promote homosexuality, and say that babies in the womb are just clumps of cells and that it is o.k. to destroy them.

   The Bible goes even farther in reverence to your parents:   "If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death.  He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head."   Leviticus 20: 9  (NIV)

   Do you know  you are also instructed to "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God"?  Leviticus 19:32   (NIV)

   What are your thoughts?

You are also invited to visit with Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com, h ttp://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, and http://tbcspeaks.blogspot.com.