March 24th

I Timothy 5

Paul has written to Timothy regarding Sound Doctrine—maintaining and safeguarding it from false teachers; Safeguarding Public Worship; Selecting Proven Officers; Prophetic Warning and in Chapter 5, he is addressing Pastoral Oversight.

Paul knows that there is a neglected part of the church membership.  He speaks to the specific groups in his church:

The Older Members v. 1-2 Paul is urging Timothy to be cautious that he not ignore the older members, but to love and serve all of the people regardless of their ages.  Earlier he had described the church as a family…and then elaborates as he mentions mother, father, brothers and sisters as a pattern of behavior toward others in the church. 

The Old Widows v. 3- 10 The care of widows has been often addressed in the Word from the early days of the nation of Israel.  It is only right that the local church show compassion to these women who were in need.  The church must be careful…there are those who “milk” the church while they themselves refuse to work or to use their own resources wisely.  Paul provided qualifications for the widow:

*without human support. 5, 8  Relatives should care for her.  We might think of this principle as rooted in the “Honor thy father and thy mother.”  After all, we love the LORD by loving HIS people; and HE has a special concern for the elderly, the widows and the orphans.

*a believer with a faithful testimony v. 5 – 7  The church cannot and should not care for ALL the widows in the city, but it should care for believers who are a part of the fellowship.  Gal.6:10…”especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  Should not be a self-indulgent, seeking pleasure, but a Godly woman who hopes in God and has a ministry of intercession and prayer.  The widow can vary from the devoted servant to the demanding attention, complaining, and gossiper.  Paul made it clear that church-helped widows must be “blameless” – irreproachable.

*at least 60 years of age v. 9 not likely to have remarried.  Probably had a least of the servant ladies of the church. 

*a good marriage record v. 9 The implication is that the widow is not a divorced woman.  Faithfulness to marriage vows!

*a witness of good works v. 10 a woman who cared for children…her own, orphans, and raised them to know the LORD.  Hospitality, relieved the afflicted, cared for the sick, fed the hungry, encouraged the sorrowing…cared for by the church but they cared for the church!

The Younger Widows v.11-16

Paul forbade the care of the younger widows.  The reasons for refusing them:  v. 11-14  Likely to be attracted to men and want to marry again.  May actually imply that the widow enrolled and pledged herself to remain a widow and serve the Lord in the church.  The idea was to protect the younger widows that they would not be in the habit of being idle instead of being useful rather than busybodies and gossipers.  There is definitely a connection between idleness and sin. 

My grandmother often said, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.

Requirements for younger widows  v. 14-16  Marry and have children.  The wife should manage the affairs of the household and her husband should trust her to do so.  Marriage is a partnership, but each partner has a special sphere of responsibility. 

Satan is always alert to an opportunity to invade and destroy a Christian home.  A Christian wife who is not doing her job at home gives Satan a beachhead for his operations and the results are tragic.  It may be all right to have what money can buy IF you do not lose what money cannot buy. 

A wife and mother that manages her home well can be a great testimony to those outside the church.  Paul left it with each local church to decide how they would meet need of the individual cases of widowhood.  Each family must decide what God’s will is in the mater of the individual and know that decisions are not easy.  The important thing is that believers show love and concern and do all they can to help each other.

Church Officers v. 17 – 25  Timothy was probably having some frictions with some of the officers in the church.  Paul was not an easy man to follow, of course,  Timothy had stomach problems.  Could it have been his many responsibilities and problems.?  We do not know the answer to that question.  Paul’s answer is not an endorsement of the entire alcohol industry.  Using wine for medicinal reasons is not an encouragement for social drinking. 

Paul counseled Timothy in his relationship to the elders. 2 kinds of elders – ruling elders who supervised the work of the congregation and teaching elders – who taught the Word of God.  They were chosen on the basis of God’s call, the Spirit’s equipping, and the witness and work of the men themselves.  After chosen, ordained and set apart for the ministry. 

Organized but not a dictator.  A church should follow good business principles, but it is NOT a business.  The ruthless way some church leaders have pushed people around is a disgrace to the Gospel.

Ruling without teaching would accomplish very little.  The local church grows through the ministry of the Word.  Unless the believers are fed, cleansed, and strengthened by the Word, they will be weak and useless and will only create problems.

Paul tells Timothy to make sure that the leaders are paid adequately on the basis of their ministries.  “The laborer deserves his wages”  Luke 10:7   If the pastors are faithful in feeding and leading the people, then the church ought to be faithful and pay them adequately.  V. 17 “generous pay”.  If is God’s plan that the local church meet the needs of His servants.  A pastor must never minister simply to earn money.  To negotiate for a huge salary is not appropriate.  Nor for a pastor to bring into his sermons his own financial needs, hoping to arouse some support from the finance committee.

Disciplining the Elders v. 19 – 21  Church discipline usually goes to one of two extremes.  NO discipline or the church officers become evangelical policemen and end up violating many of the Bible’s spiritual principles.  Here Paul is speaking of the discipline of the church leaders.  Purpose—restoration not revenge.  Save the offender, not drive him away.  Attitude of love and tenderness.  To restore – to set a broken bone. 

Paul states, ‘BE SURE OF YOUR FACTS’  Those who accuse must have witnesses.  When the accusation is made, there must be witnesses.  The church should never listen to rumors, lies, and gossip.  ‘DO EVERYTHING OPENLY AND ABOVEBOARD.’  If an officer is guilty, then he sold be rebuked before all the other leaders. V. 20  He should be given opportunity to repent, and if he does he should be forgiven II Cor. 2:6-11.  Once he is forgiven, the matter is settled and should never be brought up again.  ‘OBEY THE WORD NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS MIGHT BE.’  Act without prejudice against or partiality for the accused officer.  There are no seniority rights in the local church…each member has the same standing before God and His Word. 

Selecting and Ordaining the Elders:  v. 22-25  Only the LORD knows the heart of every one.  The church needs spiritual wisdom and guidance in selecting its officers.  It is dangerous to impulsively place a new Christian or a new church member in a place of spiritual responsibility.  Good words should be evident.  In other words, investigate the lives of potential leaders to make sure that there is nothing seriously wrong.  To ordain elders with sin in their lives is to partakers of his evil deeds.  II John 10-11

No pastor or church member is perfect, but that should not hi8nder us from striving for perfection.  The ministry of a local church rises and falls with its leadership.  Godly leadership means God’s blessing and that is what we want and need.