Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
9 Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once; 10 she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. 11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, 12 and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.
Reflect
Paul was adamantly concerned with relationships in “The Way,” so much so that he devoted all of 1 Timothy 5 to the subject. After affirming the need for a familial relationship among the believers in verses 1-8, Paul reiterates the role widows should play among those in the faith. He wanted to make sure that they served their fellow believers in every way possible in order to be “enrolled” in the congregations’ benevolence program. They should have a reputation for having served previously as a nurturer of children, one who practiced hospitality and treated those who were afflicted by physical ailments. Paul told Timothy that widows could serve the congregation by praying for fellow believers and assisting those who were indigent or ill. A retired person today may give her time to organize and maintain a church library. He may weekly change the marquee in front of the building that announces special events. Today’s societies often reflect the fact that so much of the relationships between generations have been lost. God, through economic means and necessities, reminds today’s believers to face up again the need to live together and enjoy one another. And God reminds us that we should be attentive to those who physically are limited in their service and ability to fellowship with other church members.
Pray
God of time, You have given each of us a certain number of days to serve and worship You. You have reminded us often that our service is through demonstrating our love for one another. Help us to recognize that the stress of daily life may interrupt our relationships with family, fellow believers, and neighbors. Help us to understand that by serving the needs of others we help to unburden that larger community, allowing it to also serve You. Amen.
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