Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

God has given us resources and blessed over and abundantly.

There is not question about this.

However, are we being faithful stewards of what God has provided?

Are we being faithful to our families, our ministries, and our widows?

Paul addresses once again the glaring responsibility of taking care of true widows.

He once again deepens the church’s understanding of what a true widow is.

Then he reminds the family to be faithful of their widow and the church to be faithful to care for the true widow.

As he addresses, somewhere in the middle, he clarifies expectations for the younger widows.

To be brief, Paul declares to Timothy that he should teach clarity, provide for the those determined to be true and faithful widows, for younger widows to marry and be faithful to their families, and for us as individual families and as a church family to remain faithful.

Focus Passage

1 Timothy 5:9–16 (AV)9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

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.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Outline

Paul continues to address address proper care of widows within the church.

While in the previous portion of this chapter he specifically addressed the older widows and what environmental elements (family or no family) set aside a genuine widows from a widow, he now addresses the character of a true widow.

It was not just whether family was available to care for the widow or not, it was also dependent on their character.

Paul wanted to emphasize that the church is not just about welfare.

It is not about just handouts.

The church is about ministry.

The church is about good, faithful, and godly stewardship.

The church cannot just take care of everyone.

We are called to serve.

We are called to assist, but we are called to assist and support within the guides of Scripture and faithful stewardship.

It would seem that the early church maintained a list of those widows that they were able to serve and assist, let not a widow be taken into the number.

So what determined whether a woman was considered a true and faithful widow?

We know from last week, that they could not have family that was able to support.

What else determines, Scripturally speaking, what widows could and could not be helped by the church?

What widows could be helped?

(vv.9-10)

1 Timothy 5:9–10 (AV)9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Eligibility was determined by age

We know that from our previous text, only those widows who had no family, were able to be helped, But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God (1 Timothy 5:4 AV).

Now, we see that age was a factor in who could be and could not be assisted and placed on the registry of the 1st century church for help.

Only those who were 60 years of age and older were allowed on the registry, Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old.

What was so important about being 60?

To begin with, the retirement age for most adults in the first century was age 60.

Most were considered above marital age after 60 years of age.

If one was retired and above marital status, then this would prove to be a safe guard for the ministry.

They could faithfully serve.

Eligibility was determined by service

Do we get this today?

Many in the church believe that when they reach retirement, that they not only get to retire from work, but they also get to retire from service within the local church.

May we understand that there is no retirement age within service to the local church and the kingdom of God.

One may change positions, change roles, change where and how they can serve, but service does not stop.

In fact, when one is retired, and especially a widow, who has no family, home, or work obligations, they are able to be more committed to the ministry within the local church.

Paul points this out when he writes, Well reported of for good works…if she have washed the saints’ feet.

Now, while we may not want to wash feet and we don’t consider this a desire able thing and we do not see it as an ordnance of the church, let us not overlook the meaning of this act of service.

Foot washing was reserved for the lowest of the slaves.

It was considered a lowly service.

Yet, the widows would do this and why?

Because they were following the example of our Lord the night he was betrayed, when he washed the feet of His disciples.

He took the role of a servant.

They too, followed and took the role of a servant of the church.

Many, would do good to remember that we are here to serve one another and serve the Lord, not to be served.

It is because of their commitment to the Lord through service to and within the local church, that the church should take care of them.

This brings us to our other variable that Paul uses to distinguish between a widow that can or a widow that cannot be supported within the church.

Eligibility was determined by age, determined by service, and...

Eligibility was determined by faithfulness

As already revealed, true widows, those that the church could support were called to be faithful in the Lord, Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trustest in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day (1 Timothy 5:5 AV).

In addition to being faithful to the Lord through faith and prayer, they were also called to be faithful to their husband, having been the wife of one man.

This does not mean that they had only been married once.

In fact, we find that Paul encourages those widows who are young to remarry, I will therefore that younger women marry (v.14a).

He stating that they are to literally be a “One-man Woman.”

This is in agreement and similar to the same character in requirement of both the pastor and deacon (1 Timothy 3:2,12 respectively).

The true widows faithfulness did not stop with just the Lord and their husband, but they also were to be faithful to their home and children, if she have brought up children.

The widows faithfulness was demonstrated in how she served and ministered to those in trouble, those who were strangers, and in any other area that was considered to be faithful service in the Lord, if she have lodged strangers…if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

As Paul addresses the widows that could be helped, he addresses the younger widows with encouragement and warning.

Young widow, be faithful (vv.11-15)

1 Timothy 5:11–15 (AV)11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

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.

14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.

Paul after directing Timothy to instruct the church on older and faithful widows, changes direction and gives him instruction toward younger widows.

While there’s instruction to help older widows, as we have seen, there is a change in direction for younger widows, But the younger widows refuse.

Why is this?

Why does Paul instruction Timothy, the church, not to assist younger widows?

Paul states that younger widows should not be assisted for several reasons, much of which is determined by age.

Remember what Paul stated at the beginning of this text, Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old.

Young widows could not be assisted because...

Despite their pledge, they would have a propensity to lack faithfulness

Paul states, when they begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry.

What is Paul stating?

He is stating a reality.

They could commit with a very real intention of being faithful to God for the remainder of their life, but at some point they would become lonely.

They would begin to crave companionship.

They would want a relationship and although they would have a relationship with Christ, this relationship alone would not be enough.

So, rather than being faithful to the Lord, they would begin to chase after the things of this world, especially the sensual desires of the flesh.

Paul addresses this same burning passion within the flesh, especially of the young, and says get married rather than becoming overcome by temptation.

1 Corinthians 7:8–9 (AV) 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

This is why Paul writes to Timothy, I will therefore that the younger women marry.

If the younger widows made this pledge and then as life went forward and began to be unfaithful to their ministry or the faith in general, this would bring judgment upon them, having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Once again, Paul addresses this with believers in Corinth in describing the obligations of marriage and the strain that it places on those in the ministry.

It is hard to be as faithful as one wants to be when they have other obligations outside of the ministry and one’s faith.

1 Corinthians 7:32–35 (AV)32 But I would have you without carefulness.

He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.