The Senior Perspective

1 Timothy 5:1-10

I. Respect Older Christians

A. Treat older men as fathers. “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.” (1 Timothy 5:1)

B. Age is not the only factor in recognizing elders in the church; humility and cooperation are critical factors. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:5-6)

C. Treat older women as mothers. “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:2) “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)

II. Give Particular Respect to Widows

A. Actual widows have a formal position in the church. “Honour widows that are widows indeed.” (1 Timothy 5:3)

1. God takes genuine widows personally. “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5)

2. Providing for widows makes believers like God Himself. “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.” (Jeremiah 49:11)

B. Just calling a person a widow does not mean that person is eligible for formal recognition in the church as a widow; families must take care of their own. “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)

1. People torture language and doctrine to free themselves from Biblical obligations; Jesus Himself exposed the problem. “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:11-13)

2. Theologically designated parents also deserve the honor expected for biological parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

C. Biblical widows display clearly discernable patterns. “Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” (1 Timothy 5:5)

D. A woman who misuses her opportunities in the church is actually already dead. “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1 Timothy 5:6)

1. Easy living is no sign of heavenly blessing; people who live well at the expense of the saints fail to understand the danger in which they place themselves. “They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” (Psalm 73:5-7)

2. Jesus told a parable of a man so caught up in the world that he made no provision for Judgment Day and consequently lost everything. “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

E. Keep people from embarrassing themselves through ignorant errors. “And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.” (1 Timothy 5:7)

F. People who ignore or shirk their responsibilities are worse than unbelievers. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8)

III. Only Designate Genuine Widows

A. “Widow” is a calling, not an accident of time. “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.” (1 Timothy 5:9)

B. Real widows will have benefited the church in multiple, identifiable behavior patterns. “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.” (1 Timothy 5:10)