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Open your Bibles to 1 Tim 5, and if you want also mark 1 Cor 9, as we will visit that passage today as well.
We have come as far as 1 Tim 5, verse 11.
Last week we looked at the widow who is really a widow...the woman that would be considered for full time support by the church.
Qualifications in summary from last week:
1.
She has no family or other support- verse 4
2.
She is a pray warrior- verse 5
3.
She is not living a self-indulgent lifestyle- verse 6
4.
She is older in years (at least 60)- verse 9
5.
She was faithful to her husband- verse 9
6.
And, she has been and is devoted to good works- verse 10
In many scriptures God has given us commands to show compassion on the widows, orphans, and strangers, for very much we were strangers or sojourners and God showed compassion on us.
So, as we look at the oppressed people of the world, our hearts should feel mercy, for we have been shown mercy.
Today, we will continue in 1 Tim 5 picking up at verse 11, and we will read about younger widows and begin talking about Elders...church officials.
Let's Pray and then we will read 1 Tim 5:11-18
1 Tim 5:11-12 "But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith."
1.
In contrast to the older woman who had Godly character, that would be taken into the number or brought on full-time church support, Paul now instructs to refuse the younger widows, and he will explain why...
2. The older widow was to be at least sixty years old, so the younger widow is assumed less than 60, however discernment is still needed.
For example, an woman aged 58 or 59, who met all the criteria we discussed last week...is she to be refused?
Discernment...Paul gives us a great sketch for criteria to consider who we should support, but leadership still needs to be led by the Holy Spirit in every circumstance.
3. Generally speaking, the younger widow was not to be supported full-time by the church because she could remarry and start afresh in life.
She very well may receive some support from the church for a season, but it would be atypical for full-time long-term support.
4. Paul says to refuse the younger widow because she will "grow wanton against Christ..."
5.
If a younger widow is brought on full-time support of the church and pledged to serve by praying for the church and is devoted to good works (expectations as laid out in verses 5 & 10)... serving the church and Christ...Paul warns this will only last for a season, because the younger widow is going to have sensual desires (which is the definition of "grow wanton")...she will once again desire to have a husband more than she desires to keep her pledge to Christ.
So, it is better for her to remarry, then feeling conflicted and having a divided heart in serving the Lord full-time.
6.
There is great wisdom exercised by Paul here, because it's quite natural and normal to want to remarry if one is widowed at a younger age.
7. When Paul stated at the end of verse 11 "desire to marry," this phrase can be rendered "determined to marry"...this is not just a casual desire, no...Paul recognizes this is the primary desire for these widows.
Widow = almost certain destitution.
8. And, once remarried, her husband would be able to provide for her.
Married = security.
9.
In the first century, women did not have equality to men.
Women were not allowed to serve in politics, they typically were not taught to write, and only received a basic education; and they were subject to the authority of a man, either their father or husband.
Now, women did have more freedom to manage a business...in Acts 16, we meet Lydia a seller of purple.
She had a business and seemed to be well off in her financial affairs, but this was more the exception than the norm.
Most woman in the first century were wives, mothers, and worked in the home, and without a husband they struggled to support themselves.
10.
So, Paul understanding the culture of his times, and the nature of people, advises...actually he commands as "refuse" is a present imperative... 'Timothy continuously refuse putting younger widows on the list because when their physical desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they will want to remarry.
11.
Now, this next verse, Verse 12 gives us insight into the problem with the scenario described in verse 11...
12.
The younger widow will "have condemnation because they have cast off their first faith."
13.
This means she will bring judgment on herself because she broke her pledge of devotion to Christ.
14.
The NASB renders this verse, "...thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge."
15.
Paul knows the reputation of younger widow is at stake here.
If the younger widow made a commitment to serve Christ and then broke that commitment, the would carry a continuous reproach...she would have a bad reputation that would stay with her into her newly married life, which not only would affect her, but her new husband as well.
16.
You may see a note next to "first faith" in your Bible, which says "solemn promise."
The hypothetical is that the younger widow made a promise to serve and later renounced her pledge to full-time ministry...she broke her promise because she was determined to get married.
17.
Actually, if you look at verse 15, where Paul says "some have already turned aside to Satan" this actually is not a hypothetical or conjecture at all.
Younger widows were literally and figuratively "casting off their first faith" in breaking vows and committing apostasy...all of which would cause condemnation in this lifetime, and before God in the next.
18.
So, this prohibition to refuse the younger widows actually protects their reputation in the community and their eternal standing.
If refusing the younger widow seems harsh to you, it's actually in their favor in the long run.
Paul has a lot of critics, but I don't think they truly understand the good in what he writes, and we know it's good because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
19.
Paul addressed a similar idea in 1 Cor 7:8-9 "But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry.
For it is better to marry than to burn with passion."
20.
Paul recognizes being celibate and single has advantages, such as being able to be fully dedicated to the Lord, but he also recognizes human nature that people have physical desires, and it would be better for them to marry than to sin through lust or fornication.
21.
Imagine a younger widow if she pledged her life to serve Christ, and then fell into promiscuous behavior.
Not only would her reputation be damaged, but it would also give cause to unbelievers to mock the church and blaspheme God's name.
22.
All of these bad scenarios are avoided by Paul's counsel here to refuse younger widows.
In verse 13, Paul addresses additional concerns for the younger widow making a pledge to full-time ministry.
1 Tim 5:13 "And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."
Additional reasons why Paul instructs Timothy to refuse younger widows enrollment into the number are...
1.
They learn to be idle - anyone who lacks the normal tasks of work, family, caring for the home can be tempted to be idle...
2. ...and you know what the Bible says about being idle... "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."
And, if you are thinking that's actually just a saying, well the
3. 1971 Paraphrase version of the Bible called The Living Bible translates Pro 16:27 as "Idle hands are the devil's workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece."
So there!
Don't ask me how they came about that translation, as the literal translations are vastly different.
I am definitely not a fan of paraphrase versions of the Bible, except when you are really struggling to get a concept from a literal translation to modern thought.
Still, if you just study a little bit, you can typically understand any concept in the Bible.
4. Ok, back on topic...idleness is the idea of being free from labor, living in leisure...by definition this sounds like being always on vacation, and while that seems nice, by definition idleness is "shunning the labor which one ought to perform" and there lies the issue.
When you have a job and you don't perform the duties of said job, there is an issue.
Younger widows would have expectations in their duties for the church, but Paul is suggesting they would learn to, or fall into a habit of laziness.
They would become useless or inactive.
5.
In Proverbs 31, we get a glimpse of a Godly woman, and verse 27 says of her, "She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness."
6. Pro 19:15 "Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger."
7. The next concern for Paul, is the younger widow will "wander about from house to house..."
8. Expositors suggests there may have been a duty assigned to the widows serving the church where they performed house visitations...certainly this would be a good work as spoken of in verse 10,
9. ...but the concern with the younger widows is they would be idle or lazy about visitations, and would use the time to gossip...which, in it's definition, carries the idea "to throw up bubbles" since bubbles are hollow and useless things.
And, so is gossip...it escapes the lips and has no substance, and gossip floats about from place to place until discovered as false, and then "pop."
I love that illustration.
10.
They would also be busybodies meaning they are busy about other people's business...they are meddling in other people's affairs.
This is a side effect of idleness...gossip and prying into the affairs of other people becomes a sick form of entertainment.
11.
NLT renders this verse well, "And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people's business and talking about things they shouldn't."
continue to verses 14-15
1 Tim 5:14-15 "Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 For some have already turned aside after Satan."
1.
In light of Paul's concerns of the younger widows in vss 11-13, he desires the younger widows marry.
2. When Paul says he "desires", this is not speaking about an emotional desire, but more a desire that comes from reason.
Instead of "I desire", some Bible versions use "I want", "I counsel", "I advise."
3. Based on his logic, Paul is recommending a better path for the younger widow.
One where she will have purpose that will meet her needs, and will not stain the church.
4.
She will be an honor to the church by getting re-married, having children, and managing her house..perhaps even starting a business.
5. And, anyone who would say Paul is misogynistic is a fool, because the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this, and also inspired scripture like Pro 31 where the virtuous wife not only cares for her household, but also is well respected in society for her industrious ways and Christianity, in general, has done so much for the cause of the woman.
Compare rights of woman today in countries that have not been influenced by Christianity, and you will know this is true.
6. Moving on, look at the end of verse 14...If the younger widow served the church and did so poorly, this would give opportunity for "the adversary to speak reproachfully."
7. Any person or demonic being against the church is the adversary.
In Paul's day, this could have been antagonizing Jews, unbelieving Gentiles, or Satanic influences.
Pretty much the same is true today, but with greater emphasis on unbelievers and Satanic influences.
8. Whenever something bad happens in the church, the adversary just loves to blaspheme the name of God and rail on God's people.
Satan himself is titled "the accuser of our brethren" in Rev 12:10.
9.
In verse 15, we see there is an unfortunate happening in Ephesus, some of the younger widows have fallen away from the church, they have commited apostasy, and have gone to the ways of the world...which in essence is "turning aside after Satan."
10.
You know people like this...I do.
People who once served in church, who talked like a Christian, and confessed belief in Jesus, but now have renounced Him and are living for themselves, and for the world...they have turned aside after Satan.
It's a heartbreaking thing to see.
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