Scripture to Read: 1 Timothy 5:9-10
Today we focus on 1 Timothy 5:9-10. God continues to lay out the commands on how widows are to be cared for by the church. Through Paul, God gave Timothy, a young pastor, the commands to lead the believers in Ephesus on how to serve the widows in their church. These commands are the same today, for God’s Word does not change simply because of time. God gets a little more specific and says that a widow who has no family should be taken care of by the church only if she is over sixty years of age. God has designed us for work and if a widow was still under 60, she was still able to work and support herself and possibly even get married again. The widow must also have a godly character. Widows were to be active servants in the church, serving according to Ephesians 2:10 and not be in the church to simply gain a handout. God continues saying the widow should have brought up her children or helped with orphans, which was common in the ancient world. The words “brought up” could also refer to the widow investing in the children within the church by teaching them God’s Word and helping train them up to be followers of Christ. Other ministries the widow could be involved in were showing hospitality to strangers, washing the saints' feet (God's people), helping the distressed, and being involved in doing other good works. The widow was to be an active servant of our Lord.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about the widow’s role within His church?
2. How have you seen widows in our church serving our Lord in ministry?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!