Paul the apostle wanted to
insure that Timothy his “son in the faith” knew how to
care for certain individuals within the church in Ephesus. Among them
were the “widows” who were “widows indeed”.
Paul told Timothy he could know these “widows indeed” by
whether they “trust in God, and continue in supplications and
prayers night and day” or “live in pleasure” and are
“dead while” they live. In chapter five and verse seven of
his letter to Timothy, Paul told him to “give” these
things “in charge” and then gives him the reason why. We
read:
And these things give
in charge, that they may be blameless.
The verse begins, “And
these things give in charge,...” Paul
begins this verse with the word “And”
which means a continuum of the thought preceding it, which brings us
to a good reminder that originally the chapters and verses of the
Bible were not in place as they are today. These were letters such as
we might write which were divided into chapters and verses to make it
easier for our turning to certain passages. In other words, this
verse would have continued the verse before it, “But she
that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
And these things give in charge, that they may be
blameless.” Paul went on to
write, “these things”
which is a reference to the instructions concerning widows, “give
in charge” or “transmit in a
message along from one to another, declare, announce, command
and order”. Timothy was share these instructions with “widows”
so they would know how to act according to Paul's words.
The verse goes on to say, “...that they may be blameless.”
Paul gave the reason Timothy
should transmit “these things”,
“that they may be”
which refers to the “widows”,
“blameless” which
means “not apprehended, as ones who cannot be laid hold of
or reprehended, and not open to censure or reproach”. As Timothy
shared these instructions according to Paul's words, they would be
found “blameless” when they received support from the
church.
As we ponder Paul's words,
we may find it interesting that there were such problems within the
church as “widows” who were receiving support and should
not have been. Families were neglecting their “piety before God”
by not taking care of their own “widows”, and there must
have been some “widows” who were receiving support when
they shouldn't have because they were “worldly minded” rather
than “spiritually minded”. This should give us encouragement when
we look at the church today. These instructions from Paul would not
have been necessary if there wasn't a need for them, and when we
continue within the church, there are directives that are necessary
to apply. While we sort through this idea, let us allow the Lord
Jesus to brand upon our hearts that the church is still His, and He
knows how to “give in charge” what is best whether it be
concerning “widows” or any other areas of concern we may
have.
Next
time Paul gives an evaluation of those who will not take care of
their widows, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the
daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to
Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”,
and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in
all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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