October 8 Daily Discovery
October 8 Daily Discovery - Read 1 Timothy Chapter 5
This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).
Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.
[1] Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
[2] The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
[3] Honour widows that are widows indeed.
[4] 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.
[5] Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
[6] But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
[7] And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
[8] 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.
[9] Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
[10] 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.
[11] But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
[12] Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
[13] And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
[14] I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
[15] For some are already turned aside after Satan.
[16] If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
[17] Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
[18] For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
[19] Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
[20] Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
[21] I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
[22] Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
[23] Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
[24] Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
[25] Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
How to Treat People in the Church
In this chapter, Paul is telling Timothy how he should interact with people in the church. All people were to be treated with respect and some were to be given special honor and care.
Treat the Men as Fathers and Brothers
Elders were to be treated as you would treat a father. This would mean all older men and especially those that occupied the office of an elder in the church regardless of their age. It would not be seemingly for a child to rebuke his father. We must be very careful when we feel like we need to rebuke one of the elders or pastors of our churches. I can remember times when I as a young man, even a married young man would have had occasion to correct my father but in every case I decided not to; it did not seem appropriate. We should have this hesitation in our spirits when dealing with elders of our church. The younger men we are to treat like our own brothers with respect and love.
After all the church is the family of God and we are all the children of God within it.
Treat the Women as Mothers and Sisters
Younger women were to be treated as sisters and older women were to be treated as mothers and women that were widows that were over 60 years and had no one else that could care for them from their families were to be taken care of physically by the church.
Honor true widows
If the widows had living relatives that were close to them then it should not become the charge of the church to care for their physical needs. They were also spiritual requirements that he lists. Widows under the care of the church were expected to live lives of holiness and dedication to the cause of Christ and we're expected to be serving the church.
Treat Yourself with Care
And then finally Paul tells Timothy to take good care of himself. Apparently, he suffered with frequent digestive issues and Paul instructed him to use wine as a medicine for his frequent infirmities of his flesh. He told him to use a little not to drink a lot because elders were actually forbidden to be given too much wine.
--------------
Continue Your Search
Do you see any: Commands to Obey, Warnings to Heed, Promises to Claim, Examples to Follow, Vices to Avoid, Praises to Emulate, Prayers to Use, Principles by which to Live, Questions to Ask or Actions to Take?
Follow
