1 Timothy: Session 9

We move into chapter 5 of 1 Timothy and find a list of very practical instruction that is specific to the context that Timothy is ministering in: the city of Ephesus.

What we are going to see this evening in the first half of chapter 5 is what I would call logistical training for Timothy. What do I mean by logistical training? Paul tells Timothy that the organization side of the church is important and must be paid attention to.

First, We know the church is NOT merely an organization but rather is an organism. What is the difference between the two and why is it important for the church to understand this difference?

I liken an organization to a machine - it exists to accomplish specific tasks with the resources at hand.

Organisms, however, are alive. They are more than a machine. They are full of life - in this case, full of Christ. For the church… it is not about what we do (organized) but rather about who we serve and become (followers of Christ). Our BEING determines our DOING.

So is organization completely thrown out the door within the church?

I’ve heard many people complain against the “organized” church throughout the years. I’ve heard people go so far as to criticize and almost criminalize churches because of their organization. But I want us to remember two important points this evening as we dive into chapter 5.

This is GOD’s Church and it is NOT for us to define how it is to operate.

As we will see tonight, God’s Church IS an organized church. Standards are given for proper operation to maximize our reach and overall effectiveness in ministry.

1 Timothy 5 begins to lay out what I would call logistical training - organizational points - from Paul to Timothy. AND… these points were meant for issues the church at Ephesus was facing. But behind these context-specific points we can find timeless truths that we should be concerned with in our own day and ministry.

Respect Among the Brethren

1 Timothy 5:1-2 reads, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”

Paul just laid out a very important standard to be upheld within the organization of the church. Respect and love one another. And yes… I consider this a logistical matter for this truth must be remembered. Love and respect must be at the core of how we organize and operate.

This instruction is given within the context of the church at Ephesus. This is an INTERNAL command… this is how the church is to operate.

This instruction brings out two important factors to be considered: Age and gender.

How were older men to be treated? As a father.

How were younger men to be treated? Like a brother.

How were older women to be treated? As a mother.

How were younger women to be treated? Like a sister.

All in all - how are the people of God supposed to treat one another? LIKE FAMILY with absolute purity!

Now, in our day and age, this concept is becoming harder to understand. Why? Because we are seeing a breakdown of the family in our culture.

There might be some who struggle with the idea of treating an older man or woman as they would their father and mother. Why? Because of bad history. The same could be said of sibling relationships. But Paul encourages Timothy that this is the level of love and respect that is to be lived out within God’s church.

What makes the church more than just another social gathering or get together is our fellowship with God and our fellowship with others.

Even as we talk about our belonging to God, what terms do we typically use?

Men in this room… You are God’s sons. Ladies in this room… you are His daughters. The Bible says we are co-heirs with Christ and we are referred to as brothers and sisters. WE ARE FAMILY and that is what makes the church so special!

And no matter the challenges we face, no matter the ups and downs we might experience, we need to remember that we are bound together in Jesus. This is MORE than a gathering… this is the family of God!

Therefore, we must live and operate as such. When it comes to the organization of the church… we operate as a family. We work together as family. We care for one another as family. And this is a truth that needs to be reflected in how we do things as a church.

Stewardship in Ministry

This next area of instruction might seem a bit strange at first… but we are going to dig into this to find what Paul is trying to explain.

1 Timothy 5:3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

So… what does Paul have against widows??? Absolutely nothing. However… Paul drops a hard lesson here… a lesson revolving around how we meet the needs of others… a lesson founded on stewardship.

Paul begins by highlighting two categories of people when it came to addressing the needs of the widows: those who devoid of help, and those who have access to help.

To be clear: there was no form of government assistance for widows in Paul and Timothy’s day. They were on their own. But how was the church supposed to be the answer for the enormous need of supplying for all the widows? The answer is proper stewardship of ministry resources - and this does not stop only at benevolent assistance.

Category one - widows who have access to help

What instruction does Paul give here? Where was the help supposed to come from? CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. And make note of this: verse 4 says that family who take care of their own “put their religion into practice by caring for their own family… this is pleasing to God.” James 1:27 echos this saying, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Those who opt out of helping their family members have “denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” according to Paul’s teaching.

Category two - widows devoid of help

Paul states they place all their hope in God by continuing to pray and asking God for help. THE CHURCH is God’s answer to such in need.

A “list” of widows in mentioned meaning the church is keeping track of those in need.

So why is stewardship so important within the organization of the church?

God does not desire for the resources of the church to be abused or misused. As we learned in our Living Free training, there is a big difference between showing mercy to someone and enabling bad and improper behavior. The church is instructed to take care of those who have no hope of care from others… but for those who DO have access to care OR are able to care for themselves should do so instead of becoming a burden to the church!

What Paul is instructing here is that there are times we say yes to helping and times we say no. And this might seem difficult to understand but we are not helping ANYONE who refuses to first help themselves.

Listen and hear me closely: I truly believe poverty is more a state of mind than it is a financial status.

I have met some of the most “rich” people who didn’t have a dime to their name. I have also met some of the most impoverished people who had more financial wealth than they knew what to do with.

Bottom line is: the church is called to help the helpless - not those who REFUSE to help themselves.

Even Jesus is seen doing this throughout His ministry. Who did He hang out with? The sinners and tax collectors! Who did He most often rebuke and correct? The “religious” leaders who were supposed to know better! Jesus was even confronted for doing this. Matthew 9:11-13 “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Bottom Line: Churches must focus their ministry efforts where Christ placed His focus - on those with the greatest needs.

Focus and Family

These are the organizational reminders Paul gives Timothy in chapter five. Focus on the right needs, and remember, this church… this body… is a FAMILY. Treat one another accordingly.

The organized church becomes a problem when organization becomes the priority true enough. But without organization, the organism that is the church will struggle in its effectiveness and efficiency in ministry.

Jesus came to reach and to save the lost - not to entertain and enable the found. There is a great work to be done… a work that will require love and respect within the family of God and good stewardship of the resources God has given us.

It is not an easy task… but so long as the family remains focused… God will see us through!