I've read this several times before, I'm not sure why it caught my attention tonight, but it seems we are given direction about widows.
1 Tim 5:3; Honor widows who are widows indeed;
1 Tim 5:4; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
It seems that if woman's husband dies, and she has children or grandchildren, they should be responsible for her and help help her.
1 Tim 5:5; Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.
1 Tim 5:6; But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
There are of course some women who would rather "play" than "pray". Promiscuous women may not realize the price of playing this game.
1 Tim 5:7; Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.
1 Tim 5:8; But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
People that refuse to take care of their own family (in this context, their spouseless parent) are "worse than an unbeliever".
1 Tim 5:9; A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
1 Tim 5:10; having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
If a widow doesn't have family to help her, the church can help her.
1. If she is at least 60 years old. The wife of "one" man.
2. If she has shown herself to be a godly woman.
1 Tim 5:11; But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
1 Tim 5:12; thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
The reason younger women shouldn't be on the list is because many "want to get married". Obviously if they have a husband to care and provide for them, they wont need the church to help them. Unfortunately many of them want to "disregard Christ" in order to do this. They are willing to give up their faith, and even be unequally yoked in order to do this. They are even willing to give up their previous "pledge" of faith to Christ to do this.
1 Tim 5:13; At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
1 Tim 5:14; Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
It's better that they should remarry, the Bible doesn't forbid this, especially in the case of the death of a spouse.
1 Tim 5:15; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
It's better that they re-marry than give up their faith to "follow Satan".
1 Tim 5:16; If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
It's better for family to take care of widows (i.e. her daughter) than for the church to "be burdened" by this.
The church can help, but family should be the first choice.
.... I think there is more to say about widows, but I haven't really studied this before.
I'm not sure this passage has anything to say about us caring for widows, other than Jesus felt compassion for this widow, enough compassion to rasie her son back to life so that he could take care of her.
Luke 7:11; Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
Luke 7:12; Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.
Luke 7:13; When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
Luke 7:14; And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
Luke 7:15; The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
... we will see if there is more about widows.
1 Tim 5:3; Honor widows who are widows indeed;
1 Tim 5:4; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
It seems that if woman's husband dies, and she has children or grandchildren, they should be responsible for her and help help her.
1 Tim 5:5; Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.
1 Tim 5:6; But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
There are of course some women who would rather "play" than "pray". Promiscuous women may not realize the price of playing this game.
1 Tim 5:7; Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.
1 Tim 5:8; But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
People that refuse to take care of their own family (in this context, their spouseless parent) are "worse than an unbeliever".
1 Tim 5:9; A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
1 Tim 5:10; having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
If a widow doesn't have family to help her, the church can help her.
1. If she is at least 60 years old. The wife of "one" man.
2. If she has shown herself to be a godly woman.
1 Tim 5:11; But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
1 Tim 5:12; thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
The reason younger women shouldn't be on the list is because many "want to get married". Obviously if they have a husband to care and provide for them, they wont need the church to help them. Unfortunately many of them want to "disregard Christ" in order to do this. They are willing to give up their faith, and even be unequally yoked in order to do this. They are even willing to give up their previous "pledge" of faith to Christ to do this.
1 Tim 5:13; At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
1 Tim 5:14; Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
It's better that they should remarry, the Bible doesn't forbid this, especially in the case of the death of a spouse.
1 Tim 5:15; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
It's better that they re-marry than give up their faith to "follow Satan".
1 Tim 5:16; If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
It's better for family to take care of widows (i.e. her daughter) than for the church to "be burdened" by this.
The church can help, but family should be the first choice.
.... I think there is more to say about widows, but I haven't really studied this before.
I'm not sure this passage has anything to say about us caring for widows, other than Jesus felt compassion for this widow, enough compassion to rasie her son back to life so that he could take care of her.
Luke 7:11; Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
Luke 7:12; Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.
Luke 7:13; When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
Luke 7:14; And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
Luke 7:15; The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
... we will see if there is more about widows.
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