DIGGING DEEP NO. 1127 March 17, 2026
1 TIMOTHY (PART 6)
ORDER IN THE CHURCH
1Tim.5: 1- 16.
The first problem the early church faced was also a modern one. A group of church members was neglected by the ministering staff. Then, Paul instructed Timothy how to minister to specific groups in his church.
The Older Members – 1Tim.5: 1- 2. Paul admonished Timothy to minister to the various kinds of people in the church, and not to show partiality 1Tim.5: 21. Since Timothy was a younger man, he might be tempted to ignore the older members; So, Paul urged him to love and serve all the people, regardless of their ages. The church is a family; Treat the older members like your mother and father, and the younger members like your brothers and sisters.
The Old Widows – 1Tim.5: 3- 10. From the very first beginning of the birth of the church, the church had a concern for believing widows Acts.6: 1. God had given special legislation to protect the old widows Deut.10: 18; 24: 17; Is.1: 17. It was only right that the local church show compassion to these women who were in need. However, the church must be careful not to waste its resources on people who really are not in need. Whether we want to admit it or not, there are individuals and entire families that “milk” local churches. Paul listed the qualifications a widow must meet if she is to be supported by the church.
Without human support “desolate” 1Tim.5: 5, 8. If a widow had relatives, they should care for her so that the church might use the money to care for others who have no help. We need to remember that they did not have the kind of institutions we have today: pensions, social security, retirement homes, and so forth.
A believer with a faithful testimony – 1Tim.5: 5- 7. The church could not care for all the widows in the city, but it should care for believers who are a part of the fellowship Gal.6: 10. A widow the church helps should not be a self- indulgent person, seeking pleasure, but a godly woman who hopes in God and has a ministry of intercession and prayer Lk.2: 36- 37. Older women, not necessarily widows are spiritual powerhouses in the church. They are the backbone of prayer meetings and they give themselves to visitation. If a widow is not godly, she can be a great problem to the church. She will demand attention, complain about what the younger people do, and gossip. Paul made it clear that church helped widows must be blameless 1Tim.5: 7.
At least sixty years old – 1Tim.5: 9. A woman of this age was not likely to get remarried in that day; though sixty is not considered that old today.
A Good marriage record – The implication is that the widow was not a divorced woman. Faithfulness to one’s marriage vows is very important in the eyes of God.
A witness of good works – 1Tim.5: 10. If a person is faithfully serving God, the light will shine and others will see it and glorify God Matt.5: 16. Hospitality is another factor, for this was an important ministry in those days when travel was dangerous and safe places to sleep were scarce. “Relieved the afflicted” could cover many kinds of ministry to the needy; feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, encouraging the sorrowing. Every pastor gives thanks for godly women who minister to the material and physical needs in the church. These widows were cared for by the church, but they in turn, helped to care for the church.
The younger widows – 1Tim.5: 11- 16. The younger widows would technically be women under sixty years of age; but I believe Paul had much younger women in mind. Paul listed the positive things he wanted the younger widows to do to be accepted and approved in the church. He wanted the younger widows to marry and have families. Why remain in lonely widowhood if there was yet opportunity for a husband and a family? All of this would have to be in the Lord 1Cor.7: 39.
Manage the house – 1Tim.5: 14. The wife should manage the affairs of the household, and her husband should trust her to do so Prov.31: 10- 31. Marriage is a partnership, but each partner has a special sphere of responsibility. Few men can do in a house what a woman can do. The result of all this is a good testimony that silences the accusers. Satan, the adversary is always alert to an opportunity to invade and destroy a Christian home. How Christian wives and mothers manage their homes can be a testimony to those outside the church. Just as a pastor is to have a good reputation with outsiders 1Tim.3: 7, and the servants are not to bring reproach on God’s Word 1Tim.6: 1, So the wives are to have a good report. How does this principle apply to Christians today? Certainly, we must honor our parents and grandparents and seek to provide for them if they have needs. Not every Christian family is able to take in another member, and not every widow wants to live with her children. Where there is sickness or handicap, professional care is necessary, and perhaps this cannot be given in a home. Each family must decide what God’s will is in the matter, and no decision is easy. The important thing is that believers show love and concern and do all they can to help each other.