Uncharitable Charity

Introduction:

An African-American reporter by the name of Jason Riley, recently published a book entitled, Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed. In this book, Mr. Riley describes how well intentioned acts of charity are counterproductive and end up hurting the very people they were intending to help.

This should not surprise us; as we have been learning in our series from the Pastoral Epistles, there are serious consequences when we seek wisdom from any source outside of God’s Word. Both unsound doctrine and unsound behavior flow from unsound wisdom. Remember the charge Paul gave Timothy in chapter one?

1 Timothy 1:3–5 ESV

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

True charity “issues” from true doctrine. In chapters 4 and 5, Paul turns to sound behavior. One of the topics Paul addresses is the long-term care and support of older widows. Too old for either labor or marriage, these women had little or no hope for supporting themselves, they were dependent on the charity of others. Widows are not the only class of people Scripture commands us to be charitable to. In addition to widows, Scripture commands us to care for orphans, the handicapped, the impoverished and the sojourner. However, of all the categories of “poor,” widows were generally the most needy and vulnerable. Consequently, the guidance God gives us through Paul will help us in loving others in a way that truly helps rather than hurts. Let us read this guidance now:

1 Timothy 5:3–16 ESV

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 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. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

From these 16 verses we discover three ways in which charity can become uncharitable. The first is this:

Charity Becomes Uncharitable When...

It Undermines Personal Responsibility

The first responsibility all of us has it to provide for ourselves. In the middle of Paul’s instructions about widow, we find these words:

1 Timothy 5:9 ESV

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,

Noticed that Paul uses the word, “enrolled”. Apparently there was a list of widows who were officially enrolled in the church records as worthy recipients of long-term financial support. Paul list several criteria for being on this list; the first is that she must be at least sixty years old. Beginning in verse 11, Paul gives instructions concerning younger widows. Here the clear instruction is that they were not to be idlers, but rather seek to get married and busy themselves with hard work. This is in line with the Old Covenant teaching that younger widows were to glean in the fields for their livelihood.

This does not imply that younger widows and other categories of poor are not to receive temporary help until they “get on their feet” and can provide for themselves. Repeatedly we are commanded in Scripture to lend to the poor so they can get back on their feet and provide for themselves. The clear teaching of both the Old and New Testaments is that able-bodied individual should only receive temporary help. In fact, if a person shows themselves unwilling to work, all aid is to end; even if it means they go hungry!. Paul gives this instruction to the Thessalonian church:

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 ESV

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

From this we can see that much of our charity today, whether it is privately run or state run, is unbiblical. Welfare has become an entitlement, rather than an act of mercy and love.

There is another level of personal responsibility Paul addresses here, the responsibility to care for our own family. The church is to help the poor only when there is no family to do so.

1 Timothy 5:4 ESV

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

This is a perfect example of how bad doctrine produces bad behavior. Listen to what happens to a person when they do not care for their needy relatives.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Our current, unbiblical form of charity in America does not just harm the poor, it hurts everyone! It temps us to not take responsibility for our families and moves us into a moral and spiritual state than is worse an paganism! This moral and spiritual decline brings us to the second point:

Charity Becomes Uncharitable When...

It Undermines Morality

Doctrine is a set of beliefs. Prior to the twentieth century, the beliefs most Americans held on how to help the poor were based on the Bible, but as the nineteenth century was drawing to a close more and more Americans adopted beliefs inspired by the teachings of Karl Marx and Chancellor Bismark of Germany. Now we need to be clear here: any teaching not based on the Bible, even if it is not overtly religious, finds its roots in the teaching of demons.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

Notice the word “through” in verse 2? The “insincere liars,” are but tools used by demons. I have no doubt that many people who follow false doctrine are “sincere.” Many who donate to unbiblical charities or vote for politicians who support unbiblical welfare might “sincerely” believe they are helping the poor. But what we need to understand is that those who teach false beliefs, such as Marx or Bismark, are “insincere liars” and their teaching comes from the pit of hell! Unbiblical charity destroys the family and undermines morality because it was design by demons to do this this very thing!

For example, any welfare that promotes or allows idleness is uncharitable. In both this morning’s text from 1 Timothy and in the passage I read from in 2 Thessalonians, Paul is warns us about idleness? In both passages, Paul says that idleness creates people who are busybodies and in 1 Timothy he adds that they become gossips.

1 Timothy 5:13 ESV

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

Idleness breeds an unhappy, disgruntled spirit that loves to complain and relish in the problems of others. One only has to watch daytime TV to see the truth of this. There is something profoundly wrong with a person’s soul when they enjoy watching other people’s problems and moral failures broadcast before the world. They don’t have to go house to house to get the juicy details, they just have to turn the TV on! But who has the time to watch these shows? Those who are not gainfully employed!

Moreover, busyness seems to produce the fruits of good works. In verse 10, Paul instructs Timothy to only to enroll older women who have a history of good works.

1 Timothy 5:10 ESV

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.

Have you ever noticed that the busiest people are the people who do the most good? As counter intuitive as it sounds, the more time a person has on their hands the less good they do. In fact, as the old saying goes, “Idle hands are the playground of the Devil,” the more time we have on our hands, the more trouble we get into. Listen to verses 14-15 again:

1 Timothy 5:14–15 ESV

So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.

From this verse we discover the most tragic consequence of unbiblical charity.

Charity Become Uncharitable When...

It Undermines Trust in God

The younger women who were receiving unbiblical charity were “straying after Satan.” This is in sharp contrast to the godly older women who were receiving biblical charity:

1 Timothy 5:5 ESV

She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,

Those who are invested in our current ungodly welfare system complain when people suggest “drug testing” as a requirement to receive benefits. Can you image their reaction to Paul’s requirement of hope in God and continual prayer!

Paul however is serious about this requirement, this is because he knows a healthy soul is much more important than a healthy body. Earlier he wrote:

1 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Spiritual life and health is so important, that Paul describes the ungodly widow as a living corpse. In very next verse, Paul describes this woman.

1 Timothy 5:6 ESV

but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

As I said earlier, it is no accident that the break down of the family, immorality and now self-indulgent unbelief are produce by unbiblical charity. This is all by design—the design of demons! The self-indulgence Paul speaks of in this verse can be seen in the high rates of addictions in those who are dependent on unbiblical welfare. Those who are addicted, be that addiction be to drugs or alcohol, video games or TV, pornography or some other form of sexual immorality are dead even as they are living. Perhaps it is no accident that our culture has a fascination with Zombies. Could it be that our society sees what Paul saw, but unlike Paul they have no idea why they feel so dead inside?

Conclusion:

I don’t want to end my message on such a dark note. My hope for this message is that you will see how closely tied sound doctrine and sound behavior are. The care of widows and the poor is just one example of this truth. Five times in chapters 4 and 5, Paul uses the phrase “these things” referring to the content of his teaching. (This is most clearly seen in the NASB). Only by remaining in the teaching of Scripture can we truly love and live as we should. All areas of our life are ruled by this basic truth: Sound doctrine produces sound behavior. The problems our nation and world faces is a doctrinal problem. Either we are getting our doctrine from God or from demons. When we depart from “these things” bad things happen. But here is the Good News the reverse is true as well! When we remain in “these things” good things happen. I want to leave you today with this encouraging word from the closing verse of chapter 4 in the NASB translation:

1 Timothy 4:16 NASB95

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

What an encouraging word! When we strike our hearts with the rod of sound doctrine, true love and charity will issue forth as water issued forth from the rock Moses struck! May true biblical love quench the thirst of our thirst land.