INTRODUCTION: HAVE YOU WORRIED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF OBLIGATION YOU HAVE TO THE POOR? THE PLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS IS A HOT TOPIC THESE DAYS. YOU READ ALL SORTS OF ARTICLES ABOUT THEM IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. IN LINE WITH THE POST THE WIFE OF THE EDITOR OF THE REVIEW CAME TO TALK TO US A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT SHE WAS SUGGESTING THAT WE TROT DOWN TO DC AND HELP THE HOMELESS THAT I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL SEEN IN DC. WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE WE ALL RUSHED DOWN TO DC SHE MIGHT CONSIDER PAUL'S WRITINGS THAT WE ARE STUDYING TODAY, SHE ESSENTIALLY ASKED ME WHAT KIND OF NEANDERTHAL I WAS. BECAUSE I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT IT IS FAIRLY COMMON THAT SOMEONE WILL ASK ME FOR MONEY. IT REALLY BOTHERS ME WHETHER I SHOULD GIVE MONEY, SO SOMETIMES I DO AND SOMETIMES I DON'T. SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL WITH ME WERE KIDDING ME NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT I GAVE MONEY TO THE PANHANDLER WHO SAID, "GOD BLESS YOU" AND DIDN'T TO THOSE THAT DID NOT SAY THOSE "MAGIC WORDS." THIS WEEK WE LOOK AT PAUL'S ADIVCE TO TIMOTHY ON HOW WE SHOULD TREAT OTHERS IN THE CHURCH AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY LOOK HOW PAUL SAYS THE CHURCH SHOULD DEAL WITH THOSE IN NEED.
I. HOW TO TREAT OTHERS IN THE CHURCH.
A. READ 1TIM 5:1-2. WHAT ARE THE GROUPS THAT ARE LISTED HERE? (OLDER MEN, YOUNGER MEN, OLDER WOMEN AND YOUNGER WOMEN.)
B. DOES THAT ABOUT COVER THE WATERFRONT?
C. TIMOTHY WAS A YOUNG MAN. WHAT WOULD BE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM WITH CORRECTING AN OLDER MAN? (RESENT IT.) 1. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR YOUNGER MEN? OLDER WOMEN? YOUNGER WOMEN?
D. IN A NUTSHELL, HOW SHOULD WE TREAT THESE GROUPS? (LIKE FAMILY)
E. DO WE TREAT OUR FAMILY WORSE THAN WE TREAT OTHERS? WHAT DOES PAUL SUGGEST IS APPROPRIATE? (RESPECT AND LOVE)
1. NOTICE THE FOOTNOTE GIVEN TO "YOUNGER WOMEN:" THAT THEY BE TREATED WITH "ABSOLUTE PURITY."
2. WHY DO YOU THINK PAUL ADDED THIS CLAUSE? (BECAUSE IT IS SO EASY TO CROSS THE LINE INTO IMPROPER CONDUCT WITH YOUNGER WOMEN WHEN YOU ARE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER. BOTH MINISTRY AND CT HAD ARTICLES ON THIS. IT IS COMMON THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS IN A POSITION TO CONSOLE (PSYCHIATRISTS, MED. DOCTORS, DIVORCE LAWYERS, MINISTERS) THAT THESE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS ARE EASY TO MAKE.)
II. HELPING THOSE IN NEED: WIDOWS
A. READ 1 TIM 5:3-8. THE OT OFTEN MAKES REFERENCE TO BEING FAIR WITH WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. (EX.22:22; DEUT. 24:17-19-21 (GLEANING LAWS); PS 68:5; IS. 1:17; JAMES 1:27) PAUL IS GIVING TIMOTHY INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CARE OF WIDOWS.
1. WHO HAS THE FIRST LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR A WIDOW? (HER FAMILY.)
2. IN A MINUTE WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO THE ISSUE OF WHICH WIDOWS SHOULD BE HELPED. IT SEEMS THAT PAUL IS SAYING THAT IF A WIDOW HAS FAMILY SHE IS NOT A REAL WIDOW (v.5), AND THEREFORE HER FAMILY AND NOT THE CHURCH SHOULD HELP.
3. PAUL SAYS THAT WE SHOULD REPAY OUR PARENTS AND OUR GRANDPARENTS BY HELPING THEM. WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE MENTIONS REPAYMENT?
4. IN v. 8 HE SAYS THAT IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE DENIED THE FAITH AND ARE WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER. WHY IS THAT? (1. PROBABLY BECAUSE EVEN UNBELIEVERS TAKE CARE OF THEIR MOTHERS, SO THEY WOULD BE LESS THAN UNBELIEVERS. 2. BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PRETENSE OF LOVING BUT ARE NOT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CLEAR CLAIM TO YOUR HELP.)
5. IF A WIDOW DOES NOT HAVE A RELATIVE TO DEPEND UPON, WHO DOES PAUL SAY SHOULD HELP HER? (THE CHURCH -- US.)
B. LETS READ ON. FOR PAUL GIVES INSTRUCTIONS ON WHICH WIDOWS THE CHURCH SHOULD BE HELPING. READ v.9-10.
C. WHAT MUST A WIDOW DO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HELP FROM THE CHURCH?
(1. BE OVER 60.
2. HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND. (PROBABLY MEANS THAT SHE HAS NOT REMARRIED SINCE HE DIED. BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT IF SHE HAD MORE THAN ONE HUSBAND SHE WOULD HAVE MORE FAMILY TO RELY UPON.)
3. WELL KNOWN FOR GOOD DEEDS (AND THEN HE LISTS GOOD DEEDS THAT QUALIFY.))
D. LETS LOOK AT THIS LIST IN MORE DETAIL:
1. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REASON FOR NOT PUTTING YOUNGER WIDOWS ON THE ROLE? (APPARENTLY THE IDEA IS THAT YOUNGER WOMEN CAN AND SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. PROBABLY 60 REPRESENTS THE CULTERAL NORM FOR "OLD AGE."
2. WHAT REASON FOR BEING FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND? (SHOW GOOD CHARACTER.)
3. WHAT REASON BE KNOWN FOR GOOD DEEDS? (LOOKS LIKE PAUL BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE EARN THE RIGHT TO BE HELPED. AND IF YOU DON'T EARN THE RIGHT TO HELP, YOU DON'T GET IT.)
E. NOW LETS APPLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS TO THE POPULAR WASHINGTON POST IDEA THAT WE SHOULD ROAM THE STREETS OF DC HELPING THE HOMELESS.
1. DO YOU THINK THAT PAUL WOULD APPROVE OF THE GENERAL SUPPORT (NOT EMERGENCY) OF A HOMELESS PERSON WHOSE CHARACTER WAS NOT KNOWN TO THE CHURCH?
2. WOULD YOUNG MEN (MUCH LESS MEN) EVER BE ELIGBLE FOR SUPPORT? (APPEAR NOT IF THEY COULD WORK.)
3. WOULD THE HOMELESS WHO HAD NO CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT?
4. LETS PUT THIS ANOTHER WAY: IF A WIDOW COULD WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT IF SHE WAS UNDER 60, WOULD A MAN UNDER 60 BE ELIGIBLE?
5. IF A CHURCH WIDOW WHO WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT, WOULD A MAN WHOSE CHARACTER IS NOT KNOWN BE ELIGIBLE?
6. IF A CHURCH WIDOW WHO IS NEEDY, BUT HAS NOT DONE GOOD DEEDS IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT, WOULD A MAN WHO APPEARS TO HAVE SINFUL TRAITS BE ELIGIBLE?
F. READ 11-14. PAUL SAYS THAT WHEN THE YOUNGER WIDOWS WANT TO MARRY THEY BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN THEIR FIRST PLEDGE. BUT HE ALSO COUNSELS THE YOUNGER WIDOWS TO MARRY.
1. WHAT IS UP?
2. HOW CAN HE SAY BOTH OF THESE THINGS? (HE PROBABLY IS TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE TO AN UNBELIEVER. ("THEIR SENSUAL DESIRE OVERCOMES THEIR DEDICATION TO CHRIST"v.11) AND THEREFORE THE PLEDGE THAT THEY BREAK IS TO GOD.)
III. NEXT WEEK: STUDY THE REST OF CHPT 5. WE WILL DISCUSS CHURCH LEADERS NEXT WEEK.