Faithfully Living in the Household of God - The Character of Godly Widows and Women:

Biblical Character of a Godly Widow and Women:

We live in a day when it is assumed that women will reject the norms of Biblical Christianity. This environment has made it very difficult for women to live out Biblical faith without being attacked, ridiculed and shoved aside. The voice of the feminist culture is very loud and anti-Christian.

One of the original voices of 19th century Feminism sums up the basic presupposition or foundational beliefs as follows.

“I have endeavored to dissipate these religious superstitions from the minds of women, and base their faith on science and reason, where I found for myself at last that peace and comfort I could never find in the Bible and the church....The less they believe, the better for their own happiness and development...

The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation.” (Elizabeth Cady Stanton The Degraded Status of Woman in the Bible" (1896)

Though Stanton advocated for some good things regarding women’s rights, her foundational beliefs sought to undermine faith in God, because she and others like her, saw it as a means of holding women in bondage. And therefore, seeking change they sought to deal with a symptom rather than the root cause. Thinking that the symptom of mishandling authority by the church and man was the root, thus leading them to chop the down the foundation of the tree, instead of dealing the with invasive pest making it rot from the inside, namely the fallen nature of man.

This has lead now to the destruction of the family, unhitching men from their fatherly duties, and women from their God appointed roles. Causing a domino effect upon society, with increased divorce rates, skyrocketing abortion rates, and a booming transgender and homosexual movement. All because we misdiagnosed the basic problem of the unregenerate person, and sought instead to regulate morality through legalism.

Where sin rules unchecked, depravity will be the standard. Therefore, women and children will be dominated and abused by men. Not because men in their sin are more wicked than women, but because they are stronger and more aggressive and in their sin, lack the self-discipline necessary to control themselves. Therefore, the necessity of the work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit cannot be overstated, for without it there will always be a sinful outcomes.

Therefore, when we read passages like 1 Timothy 5:3-16, and Paul gives some very direct examples to describe the character of a Christian women. It is not to place the women in a box of restrictions so that she may be dominated or controlled by men. But rather to show society as a whole what a women of godly character looks like, according to the creator God, and not according to the minds of men.

The foundational belief or the presupposition that Paul bases the godly character of anyone on, let alone a women, is the reality that we as Christians are servants of Christ Jesus.

Paul gives us the purpose of Timothy’s faithfulness in 1 Timothy 4:6 “be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.” To be a good servant of Christ Jesus, is to have ones life guided by the words of the faith and the good doctrines.

All Christians are first to be servants of Christ Jesus. Women your only master is Christ Jesus, the brokenness of society may try to force you into a position of servitude to another person. But for those who are in Christ, our master is the King of Glory, who by his blood has freed us from our true slavery to sin.

It is from this place of serving Christ that we reorient our lives and fall in line with God’s good plan and desire for us. The worldly voice seeks to move women away from God’s design for life. Stanton in the quote I read early, says “I have endeavored to dissipate these religious superstitions from the minds of women.” Because in moving you away from being a good servant of Christ Jesus, means that you can be controlled and lead by the ever shifting voice of the world.

But you as a Christian women are not to be conformed to this world. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

For those who are conformed to this world, are lead to think like the world, believe like the world, and act like the world; and cannot discern what the will of God is, nor what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 4:4 “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Romans 8:7–8“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

But the women of God Paul says in 1 Timothy 5:5 “She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,” She reorients her life toward Christ, because He has become her place of refuge and safety and she can then walk in obedience to Him in all areas of life, because she trusts in His word and faithfulness.

She has set herself to be conformed to Christ, instead of conforming Christ to her own ideals. This then makes it possible for the godly women to discern what the will of God is for her life, and then to walk according to that will as revealed by the Word of God.

Godly activities in the Household of God:

Now as the godly women seeks to be conformed to the will of God, Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit provides several fruits that will mark a godly women and in the case of our passage a godly widow.

Before we get into the fruit that Paul talks about, I want to take a moment and set a mindset before you that I think will be helpful to understand the mind of God regarding the godly activities of women in the household of God.

I want you to be able to cut through all the noise in the world that seeks to discourage you away from a godly mindset because, according to the world, somehow that godly mindset will oppress you. Women like Stanton and other feminist will insist that Biblical Christianity is nothing more than a system created to oppress women. But they are ignorant of the word of God and therefore misunderstand and misinterpret it to their own and others destruction.

But let me give you one of the greatest qualities of a godly women. Proverbs 31:13–18 “She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.”

This is a Biblical picture of a women as a servant of God, using her talents, gifts, energy, and strength to take what she has and make it prosper to the benefit of her family. All of this is done and made possible because she operates within the protection of the family, not apart from it. The godly women understands that the independent women of our day has hindered her abilities by shoving off the benefits of family in favor of the mindset I can do it myself, for myself and by myself.

All of us who operate with the mindset, all that I do I do for me, has placed themselves at odds with the King of Glory and set themselves up for failure. But the one who understands that operating within the realm of God’s will and according to his will, is the one who finds true success and freedom. This is what God desires for women, to be prosperous, strong, and to use their abilities to serve Christ Jesus, by serving others, if a widow or unmarried the body of Christ or extended family; or if married your husband and children.

It is from this mindset of service to God, that Paul gives the young widows the encouragement in 1 Timothy 5:14 “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” Not because women are only good for is having babies and managing the home. But because God in his wisdom has made it your superpower to be the most productive and prosperous when you operate within that realm.

Paul additionally says in 1 Timothy 5:5 “She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.” Encouraging widows and unmarried women to set their lives up upon the God, being women of prayer and service to the great household of God.

Paul therefore, provides at least 5 marks of a godly women that transcend marital status, and we need to note that all 5 do not have to be present for you to be considered a godly women, this is clear with regard to the first fruit.

Having brought up children 1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” : Not all women have children for one reason or another, therefore, we ought not to make this a law and say that because someone does not have children then she is somehow lesser than the one who does. There are many women in the world who have had many children and are anything but godly. Paul’s point here in the context of the passage and 1st century culture is that the godly women who have married and are able to have children, have done so willingly and joyfully. Instead of the prevailing trend of rejecting having children because they are a burden or a hinderance to the life. This is the growing movement of DINKS, double income no kids. The whole focus is that children are a hinderance rather than a blessing from God.

Having shown hospitality 1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”: To show hospitality to people is to extend grace, mercy and love to them by opening up your home, and providing for others a place of rest and peace. Or providing for the needs of others.

Having washed the saints’ feet 1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”: Meaning that these women follow the example of their Lord and serve others regardless of the service needed. Since Jesus did not see it beneath him to perform the work of the lowliest of servants and washed the feet of the disciples. So a godly women will not be driven by pride, but in humility, seek to serve others at every opportunity. This does not mean that the more outward serve the more godly someone is, our works do not make us godly. Rather the godly women will look at her available time and take advantage of open space to serve others. The widow or unmarried women, will obviously have more time than the married women, therefore she in your love for Christ and others will find appropriate ways to serve.

Having helped the afflicted 1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”: She will seek the serve those in distress, encouraging, building up, loving, rebuking as needed, and leading them to Christ at every opportunity.

Having devoted herself to every good work 1 Timothy 5:10 “and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”: The godly women is eager to serve the Lord in all that she does. This is a mindset where the godly women follows the example of Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Knowing that since she has been recused by Christ Jesus from wrath and hell, she has the great privilege of living now for the glory of God.

The godly women echoes Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And makes her goal to serve the King of Glory faithfully and according to the word of God, knowing that it is only by the word of God that she will be able to discern the will of God for her life and live in a manner that is worthy of the gospel.

Conclusion - Walking in Faithfulness:

Our discussion sheds light on the challenges women face in a culture that often encourages an abandonment of biblical principles. The perspective of Elizabeth Stanton reveals an attempt to replace, according to Stanton, "religious superstitions" with a reliance on science and reason. However, this approach fell short, and has contributed to the societal upheavals we witness today, including broken families and moral confusion.

In Paul's teachings in 1 Timothy 5:3-16, it becomes evident that his aim is not to impose restrictive legalistic rules on women. Instead, he presents a blueprint for godly character, offering a counter-narrative to societal norms. The fundamental truth remains: Christ Jesus is the ultimate authority for believers, and the call is to undergo a transformation by God's grace, so that we may live in concert faithfully with his expressed will for life.

Proverbs 31 serves as a guide for godly women, emphasizing strength, industriousness, and a commitment to God's plan within the framework of the family. In essence, the biblical perspective is for women to embrace their roles with a focus on Christ, avoiding conformity to worldly values. Remain steadfast in the pursuit of godly virtues, and recognize that true success and freedom are found within the will of God.

Prayer:

Lords Supper:

Benediction: