I Timothy An Investment Worth Investing In
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· 6 viewsThe church's response to young widows
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Young Widows, A blessing or a burden? I Timothy 5:11-16
Young Widows, A blessing or a burden? I Timothy 5:11-16
It wasn’t just ladies over 60 that lost their husband though. There were younger ladies in the church who lost their husbands. In the church of Ephesus there seem to be quite a few widows of various ages.
Refuse-Reject
Do not let the younger widows into the financial program enrollment of the church. This was a special program for the widows in indeed. Ladies that had a godly testimony and could be a blessing as they ministered to others in the church. The church did help out other widows that were not in this special program. The word for refuse is the same word used earlier in this book. They might have children that need to be taken care of. This was not sayin that the church would not help, but Paul did not want the younger widows part of the widows ministry in the church. This word refuse is in the imperative case; which shows this is not just a wish or desire, but strong command.
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
The church is not obligated to enroll the young widows in the church. Paul does not tell Timothy not to help at all, but that it his is duty not to enroll them on the list of the widows indeed. This enrollment that we talk about last week seems to be a list of the widows the fulfill the qualifications in the previous verses. They are making a choice to stay single and focus their attention on helping out the church. It would seem that they made a commitment to God to stay single and to focus on the work of the church. This did not make them anymore spiritual than the other ladies the church their age, but it was something the believed God had called them to.
I. There would be a desire for marriage
a. Keep them from making a promise they would not keep
b. Keep them from making a promise that God never wanted them make in the first place
Illustration: Have you ever make a promise that you made quickly and then you never kept it?
Illustration: Do you remember the rash vow of the judge of Israel Jepthah?
30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
Burning humans was not something that pleased God. The Israelites killed animals. One of enemies offered babies as a sacrifice to their God. That is what the pagans did not the children of God. Whether Jephthah actual killed his daughter or whether she was forced to work the temple for the rest of her life and not get married. He made a vow that was rash. If killed her he was wrong because to break a vow was wrong but to burn a human as a sacrifice was wicked. That is what the pagans did.
A young lady may feel after the death of her husband that she wants to help out the church for a lifetime and never marry again, but after a while feel like she wants to marry again, and not keep the promise she has made to work for the church the rest of her life.
They may have the right intentions, and they truly believe that time that they would be dedicated fully to serving the Lord in the church and that they did not want to get married ever again. However we can see from these verse that Paul has had first hand experience in watching this happen before.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
a. The desire for a man will be their focus
Wax wanton- to be governed by a strong physical desire. When the physical desires of marriage come. It will be against Christ, because it will keep them from serving Christ in the church. They will be determined to get married. They lose their once proclaimed passion for the Lord, but their passion is for others.-Against Christ-they are underneath a yoke a bondage that they wish they never had put themselves under.
b. Their desire to serve the Lord will fade
Their commitment to serve the Lord will be exchanged for a constant desire to be married again.
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
-What we know it doesn’t mean.
It does not mean that these widows were saved and then because of their foolish choice to break their promise to Lord, and marry. One does lose their salvation. Once a person is saved they are always saved and they can never perish.
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
It is not by works that a person is saved.
“damnation” 28x in the Old Testament-judgement, damnation, condemnation. There will be lasting consequences for the wrong choice that is made.
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
-What it could mean
Cast off “to render null and void, to reject, to break faith, to disappoint.”
They have broken the promise they have made.
This does not mean that the widow who break her vow will lose her salvation, but that if she goes back on her promise to the Lord she will carry over a sense of guilt and self-reproach and will be punished as believer for her wrong choice
It could mean that she violates her devotion to her Christian faith.
They have broken their first pledge. This may refer to the pledge that they made to devote themselves to the service of Christ and the church
It seems like both of these are true. She breaks her pledge her vow to be a widow who helps the church and she is violating her devotion to the Lord in her Christian faith in marriage.
When we make a promise to God we need to keep it.
I am reminded of the marriage covenant. It is a promise to God that we are going to remain faithful in sickness, health. In the hardest of times. God does not take it lightly when we make a promise to Him and we break it.
Transition: The second reason for not having younger widow is
II. They would Destructive to Ministry
a. A Lack of Spiritual Maturity
Illustration: The wrong person in the wrong position has potential for powerful destruction of the church. If pastor of a church should not be a pastor and uses his position to do that which is wrong and can do much harm in the church body.
The ladies who were enrolled as widows indeed reach out to church member, visited them, maybe brought them meals. There was a spiritual immaturity that was common among the young widows.
The ladies were going from house to house instead of focusing on their own house or the important work of the church. They go by a house and spend the time tearing apart the church with their words rather than teaching others with their example about the unity and love that should be in the church.
Now she is not working for God like she should. She is wandering around from house to house. She is not really a blessing to the church, but a burden on the church.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Where they are going.
What they are saying.
Instead of investing in other in the church she idling with others
Instead of teaching others she is talking about others
Instead of ministering to other she is meddling
They are learning-is a present indicative verb which means that his was an ongoing concern that needed to be dealt with.
b. A life of separating members
The body of Christ is supposed to be unified. These young widows are wasting their time gossiping meddling in people’s affairs instead of doing the work God has called them to do.
Idle-lazy, useless, waste of time-She seems to have had to much time on her hands. She was taken care of by the church and she could do what she wanted.
Idle hands are the devils
tattlers-One who boils over with impertinent talk, gossips, overflowing with words-to babble
busybodies-meddlers, one who moves around with a ears that want to hear what is going on
speaking things which they ought not-
They are destroying the very ministry that they were sent to develop.
Illustration: During World War II, the United States government became concerned that a number of German spies were operating in America, sending information back to Germany regarding Allied war plans and specific troop and ship movements. To keep them from impacting the war effort, the Office of War Information launched a national campaign around the slogan “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” It was a solemn warning to people not to repeat information that might be damaging or even deadly if it fell into the wrong hands.
In the same way, the Word of God warns us of the dangers of gossip. Repeating stories has a way of dividing the body of Christ. Gossip is even able to separate the closest of friends. One of the seven sins on the list of particular abominations to God is “he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19).
Remember Paul said that the preacher should not be a novice. One that was as new believer. So he did not get lifted up in pride. Being able to keep people’s confidence is key for any kind of ministry in the church. People have to be able to trust you.
Illustration: That is why in ministry positions it is important to have men, ladies that are spiritually mature and they have a record of making right choices.
III. The were directed to get married
They thought they were fine, and Paul says know you ought to get married.
Boulomai-active voliation and purpose
Paul wants the younger ones to remarry. There is a desire for them to focus praying that God would give them the right spouse. He thinks it is important for them to able to be provided for them.
It is better if a younger women marry again.
a. Have children
It is important for this woman to have children. It is a sad thing in society that if you have more than two children you are crazy. You are to help raise the children. The man provides. She manages the expenses on behalf on the family.
b. Guide the house-govern or manage a household, or the domestic affairs of a family.
A wife takes pride in decorating the house, cooking, clothing, making sure those in her house are taken care of.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth meat to her household, And a portion to her maidens.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
For some have turned aside after Satan-Some of them have showed their true colors and are going down the path of rebellion.
Occasion-Military term that means “base for his operations”
Don’t allow the home to be a place where our adversary can set up his military operations. Let it be a place where the Lord is praised and a place where the devil is uncomfortable to be. A place where God is exalted and the devil is
There are those who have already gone from us after Satan. Let’s make sure that we know our role.
vs. 16 The obligation to widows
Make sure that you are taking care of the widows that are in your area of responsibility so that the church can take care of the one’s that are widows indeed.
Concluding Applications
#1 Don’t make a promise to God that you will not keep.
#2 Don’t take part in anything that would destroy the work of God
#3 As Christian men in this church you may have a lot to be thankful for tonight. When you look at all the problems in the church. Take time to thank the Lord for the wife that he gave you.