1 Timothy 5:1-8 - Widows and the poor

There is to be proper respect for people. Timothy is to treat older men as if they were his father. Ie he is to respect them, and not act in an overbearing manner. Instead he is to exhort them in an encouraging way. There is a world of difference between telling someone all the things they are doing wrong, and in exhorting them to do things right, or even better. Leaders should always be careful how they treat people of the opposite sex. Older women are to be treated as mothers, and younger women as sisters.

Paul then gives very practical advice on looking after those in need. There is a proper concern for the poor, but also a realistic and firm line and people taking proper responsibility. Too often the church in its pronouncements on poverty takes a very one-sided (and therefore unbiblical) view of the matter, focusing purely on the need of people. A statement by Church of England bishops a few weeks ago was a prime example of this. Those who are really in need are to be helped, but families must take proper responsibilities for members of their family. In today's terms we should not offload our responsibilities to the state. Taking proper care of our families is seen as a crucial example of putting religion into practice.

Just because someone is poor does not mean they are godly. Some will be, like the widow here who devotes herself to God, but equally there will be widows who devote themselves to pleasure. Such a person is spiritually dead and needs to repent. Not to take proper care of our families makes us worse than unbelievers.

In all matters we need to bear in mind that sin is our biggest problem, and sin is a problem for all human beings, rich and poor. Some liberal/socialist leaning Christians seem to treat the problem of poverty as if all we need is a state that takes proper care of the poor. This is nonsense and neglects the problems of sin. However, others of a right-wing persuasion are equally prone to ignore sin. State solutions and free -market solutions will all ultimately fail because of the corruption of sin. We need Christ.