“Honor widows who are truly widows.” 1 Timothy 5:3
October 24, 2023
Do you know a widow? In our society widows can become invisible. They are there, but we can easily presume that they are taken care of. There are social safety nets that exist that were not in place in the early church. Instructions are given to the church to determine who qualifies for special care (5:3, 5, 16). The family was to oversee the wellbeing of certain widows, “widows indeed,” namely those who are really dependent. Do you have any widows like this in your family circle? Are her financial needs met? Is there someone to help her with house and yard care, like grass cutting, gutter cleaning, plumbing, and other such things? Respect, sympathy, and knowing that there are those in the family and church who have not forgotten her circumstances are a gift from God. Interestingly, the widow who has lived having set her hope on God, has lived a godly life, and has no children could be eligible for financial aid from the church. Not all widows in the church were eligible for financial aide. An added important principle: We are to prepare ourselves for the care of our loved ones by loving them now, building oneness in one’s marriage, by talking about the future in a biblical way, and helping one another with life’s demands. Though widowhood does not necessarily mean imminent death, the family is well served that seeks guidance on difficult end-of-life decisions.
H
Recommended: Departing in Peace, Biblical Decision Making at the End of Life, by Bill Davis