WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.679 We are in 1 Timothy chapter 5. 00:00:01.760 --> 00:00:04.320 We're going to be doing uh verses 3 through 16. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:12.080 It's a little bit longer section than we're used to here, but thematically it was really hard to break that into pieces. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.560 Um and it's pretty straightforward as well. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:22.800 So we're going to be going through that uh today, um verse by verse, chapter by chapter, through whole books at a time, as we do. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:30.879 And you know, as we're talking about widows specifically here today, we're talking specifically about how the church can support widows. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:40.079 You might not be in leadership at the church, and you might not be a widow, so you might think, okay, I'm gonna just gonna check out a little bit and I'll see you next week. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:47.359 There is so much that we can learn here about our own personal giving from what Paul is gonna be telling Timothy here. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:01:09.519 And so I just encourage you, really pay attention, and we're gonna do some personal application along the way of how the Lord wants us to be giving, because all of the principles here are really the same, not just for the church supporting widows, but for us as individual Christians supporting anybody, supporting a church, supporting our neighbor, supporting family, you know, and things like that. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:15.680 So, with that, I just want to encourage you to not check out just because you're like, oh, this doesn't really apply to me. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:16.480 It does. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:21.599 So, like I said, 1 Timothy chapter 5, verses 3 through 16. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.280 Support widows who are genuinely in need. 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:36.400 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first, and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:45.680 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:51.040 However, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:54.959 Command this also so that they will be above reproach. 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:05.120 But if any one does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:16.639 No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, and is well known for good works. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:33.599 That is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work, but refused to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:40.879 Verse twelve, and we will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:45.120 At the same time they also learn to be idle, going from house to house. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:51.360 They are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things that they shouldn't say. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:03:00.159 Therefore I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.439 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.080 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:13.680 Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.120 Let's pray. 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:17.759 God, we thank you so much for your word. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:24.000 We thank you for the insights that you have for us today to learn from this passage. 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:32.639 But Lord, I pray that we would come before you in all humility, saying, Lord, please change us by the power of your word, by the power of your gospel. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:41.759 Lord, I pray that we would come to you just with an openness of heart and mind and ears and eyes, and we would allow you to do the things in us that you desire. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:43.599 By the power of your spirit, we pray. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.000 Do those things in each and every one of us. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:58.879 Help us to not just walk in here, hear a sermon, and walk away, but to leave here or change people that go out to affect our community and our neighbors and our family in positive ways for the gospel, we pray. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:00.240 In Jesus' name. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:01.120 Amen. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:02.560 You may be seated. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:31.199 So as I said, we're today we're continuing on in 1 Timothy, continuing on with Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, giving Timothy instruction about this church in Ephesus, giving him instruction on how he's to be a shepherd of this church, giving Timothy specific instructions really on a variety of different things that we've seen regarding elders and regarding leading this church. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:39.199 You know, today it appears that Paul's addressing something that this church must be having some trouble with, you know, in regards to widows. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:49.439 It looks like some widows were taking advantage of the generosity of the church, and also some widows were being denied the help that they actually needed from the church. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:57.040 So Paul's got to jump in here and he's gonna give some policy really to Timothy about how to handle all of this stuff. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:03.839 And I think we have to ask, why should so much of this book be spent on this topic? 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.920 This is a short letter, 1 Timothy. 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:12.240 And this is a good amount of verses that are specifically here, specifically for widows. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.120 And I think the answer is because it's important. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:20.000 This is a really important subject that Paul really needed to address. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:35.040 In James chapter 1, verse 27, it says, Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:37.120 This is important, isn't it? 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:38.959 After we read that verse in James. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:56.800 So Paul really takes some time, quite a bit of time in this letter, to set up an actual policy for the church on how to do this in a way to get the needy what they need and to get the scammers out the door to stop taking advantage of the church in this way. 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:06.879 You know, one thing I'd like to address before we even jump in here is that there appears to be an agreement that this church has with widows. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:13.600 Where, you know, we're reading somebody else else's mail, so we really don't know the context of this list and what they're doing. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:17.040 But verse 12, if you look at that, it uses the word pledge. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.920 And then we see again the word list in here. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:36.720 So if I were to speculate, and I'm not alone in this, a lot of people believe this, but it's probably something like the church will support widows, but in return they must commit to never marry again, and then also pledge to serve the church in certain capacities in return. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:43.439 You know, this was not a handout of, oh, here's a widow, here's your money, you know, be on your way. 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.839 There was a commitment really on both sides between the church and the widow. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:51.759 So both parties had a commitment, a pledge that they made to each other. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.160 So there was something expected in return on both sides of this pledge. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:07.279 So those are my thoughts at least, and it kind of makes sense as we read through this and dig into this that he's talking specifically about this pledge that the church and these widows had with each other. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.319 So let's jump in. 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:09.439 Verse three. 00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:13.120 Support, your translations may say honor here. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:16.319 Widows who are genuinely in need. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:19.759 If you highlight and underline, do that to the word genuinely. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:34.240 You know, I love how this starts, this section on widows, um, with this honest concern and this overarching umbrella of if there is genuine need, do something about it. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:40.560 Before he gets into policy, he just says if there's genuine need, the church needs to do something about it. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.319 To not get caught up in policy if there's somebody that just really, really needs help. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:50.319 Don't, you know, don't allow a widow to starve if she's 59. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:56.800 You know, it says 60 here, but if she's 59, you're like, oh man, we would be able to feed you if only you were one year older. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:01.439 You know, this kind of negates all of that policy type of stuff. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:07.439 It's just like, hey, you have a 59-year-old widow that's genuinely need do in need, do something about it. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:10.879 But after saying that, Paul does get into policy here. 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.240 So look at verse 4. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:25.920 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:33.200 Taking care of an aging parent that is in need, it's equated to godliness here. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:40.480 You know, this is part of our memory verse that we've been memorizing as a church that's coming up in the next chapter here. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:47.600 It says, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:49.919 Right there, pursue godliness. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:58.240 One way that we know for sure that we can pursue godliness is by taking care of aging parents that are in need. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:00.240 Just right up, straight up. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:01.279 You don't have to wonder about it. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:03.440 If you're doing it, that is godliness. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:05.919 And I want to show you the definition of godliness. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:15.440 It says, of humans, especially toward parents or ancestors, to show special respect for the members of one's own household. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:20.080 This word in the Greek specifically talks about godliness being this. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.360 It's this sense of reciprocity. 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:36.240 There's actually some extra biblical uh accounts of this word being used in Greek literature that shows that there's this sense of reciprocity toward those who have invested in you the most. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:45.519 Whether that's a biological parent or a parent figure in your life, it's reciprocity towards those who have invested in you the most. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:55.840 So it says that word right there, repay your parents in this way by taking care of them when they are unable to take care of themselves. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.279 You know, in Israel, it was customary. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:08.559 Um, I'm not sure about Ephesus, honestly, but in Israel, it was common to have a family property and everybody lived on that property together. 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.360 Everybody kind of took care of everybody. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:18.399 So it was a bit more natural, I think, for this to occur in the Israeli or the Jewish culture. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:26.799 Um, so much so that Jesus actually had to address this with the Pharisees in the same capacity. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:37.759 Mark 7, verses 10 through 11 says, For Moses said, honor your father and your mother, and whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:45.840 But you say, if anyone tells his father or mother, whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corbin. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.559 That is an offering devoted to God. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:11:03.759 So these Pharisees were promoting, taking what the children had saved up to give to their parents and take care of their parents in old age, and saying, you know, it's okay if you want to just say that's Corbin, that this is a special gift to God. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.200 And then you don't have to give it to your parents anymore. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.200 In reality, here's what the Pharisees were promoting here. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:17.840 Disobey God's command to honor your parents so that you can give more money to God. 00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:20.480 Think about that for a second. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:27.279 Really, hey, you guys should sin, go against one of God's commands in order to honor God. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:34.000 If anybody ever asks you to do that, run, don't walk the other direction. 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:42.720 To disobey a command in the god in the gospels or in the the entirety of the Bible in order to further honor God. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.080 It just doesn't make sense. 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:46.559 God's never gonna ask us to do that. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:52.080 And it just so happens that the Pharisees would directly benefit from those donations. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.200 I don't think that's a coincidence, is it? 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:58.480 You know, in our culture, like I said, it is a bit different. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:03.440 It's actually uncommon for multiple generations to live together on the same property. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:07.120 Sometimes that happens, but it's more uncommon than it is common. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:22.639 It's more common to save up for retirement, maybe live in a retirement community or an assisted living or skilled nursing, whatever it might be, you know, in those times of the older people in our society really needing care. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:28.960 It's common to try and have enough money when we retire to not be a burden to our kids. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.320 I don't know how many times I've heard that. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.480 I don't want to be a burden to my kids. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:40.159 And most people try to have hopefully some extra so when they do pass, they can actually pass something on to their kids. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:44.720 You know, in Israel, the kids were saving up to take care of the parents. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.360 I mean, completely opposite way of thinking about something like this. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:53.279 You know, in our culture, most don't want to impose on their kids. 00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:56.080 You know, I've heard that a lot as well. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:59.279 I don't want to disturb their lives. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:02.639 And I'm not sitting here saying that our culture is wrong. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.519 You know, I'm just really pointing out the differences. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:13.919 But I do want to point out that our culture being different doesn't negate the command that we have in our text today. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:21.600 That families should take care of widows genuinely in need first before the church steps in. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:30.799 That is still a biblical principle, even though our society is kind of turned on its head compared to uh what Paul's talking about and this culture. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.360 But I do want to go back and look at that word repay in verse 4. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:44.799 You know, our parents, our parent figures, if we didn't have the biological parents, typically take care of us in our culture for about 18 years, don't they? 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.120 Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:50.159 So, really, I want you to think about this. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:55.360 Is it really unreasonable for us to take care of them for 18 years? 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:57.759 Maybe a little less, maybe a little more. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:03.039 But is it unreasonable when it says here to repay our parents in this way? 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:06.320 Remember, this is godliness. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:12.720 And we shouldn't see it as an imposition in our life when that time comes, if that time comes. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:20.080 And I'm not speaking against assisted living or retirement communities or nursing facilities or anything like that. 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:29.679 I'm talking about the elderly not being seen as an imposition in our family, either biological family or even in our church family. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:39.120 If your parents are on the older side, but they're doing fine, they have the means to take care of themselves, things are going well, great, wonderful, awesome. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:55.440 Verse 4 is saying, if your parents or grandparents need help in any way, their kids and their grandkids need to step up first and help with whatever's needed before the church steps in, to respectfully repay their parents before they come to the church for help. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:58.799 And it says here in our text, this pleases God. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:06.480 But if a widow does not have any of those resources, here are the qualifications that she needs to meet. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.320 Here in verse 5, okay? 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:19.120 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.559 We're gonna stop right there. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:28.399 Here is who the church is supposed to step up and take care of a widow that is truly in need. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:33.039 She really needs assistance to eat and to have shelter over her head. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:37.679 Then the next one is who is alone, so doesn't have any family. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:40.159 Those are the first two are circumstantial. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:48.799 But then we get into her responsibility, and that is she puts her hope in God and she prays night and day. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:52.559 This is who the church really should be helping out. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.240 And then next in verse 6 is who we shouldn't be helping out. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:02.159 It says, However, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.639 Wow, Paul, that's harsh, isn't it? 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:07.120 He really doesn't mince words here. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:17.279 But the point is, don't support somebody that will use the church's resources for a life of luxury or to sin in self-indulgence. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:22.639 It says here, they are already on the path to spiritual death. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:28.639 So what happens if we support somebody that's already on the path to spiritual death? 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:34.720 We become enablers that allow them to continue down that path to spiritual death. 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:49.679 There's extra-biblical accounts of women in this culture in Ephesus whose husbands would die, and the widow would buy a good-looking male slave to be intimate with to fulfill her sexual desires. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:53.200 This may be one of the things that Paul is speaking against here. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:17:00.320 Hey, Ephesus, don't enable things like this or anything else that's going to allow somebody to go down that path of spiritual death. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:01.919 Look at verse 7. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:06.799 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:11.440 So command them to use whatever is given to them for God's kingdom. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.640 Not for sinful purposes, not for a life of luxury. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:16.160 The church is supporting them. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:21.200 They need to be using it to support themselves and for the purpose of God's kingdom. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:26.400 So he's telling them, just tell them straight up, do not use this for self-indulgence. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:33.440 You know, I worked at a church in the past, it was a very large church, and I was in charge of benevolence for a couple years. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:38.400 And so I had a lot of people coming through my office for various needs and stuff like that. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.680 And sometimes you would sit down with somebody that's coming to the church and they're asking for support. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:50.240 And sometimes you get to the point where it's like, I need to see your budget, I need to see your bills, I need to see, you know, what's going on with all of this. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:54.400 And they would have the latest and greatest iPhone in their hand. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:58.079 And then you would look at their cable bill, it's like 160 bucks a month. 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:06.640 And then you look at their car payment, and it's like 700 bucks a month, you know, and all of this stuff, and you're looking at it and you're like, you're living a life of luxury. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:13.039 We're not going to support that, especially when you're saying, I don't, you know, I'm going to end up on the street if you guys don't give me money. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.640 And it's like, no, no, no. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:29.440 You need to eliminate all of these things and see how you're doing, and then come back, you know, if, and maybe we'll talk again, but we're not going to support you so that you can live this life of luxury or life of sin and sometimes a life of addiction or whatever it might have been. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.400 But this is exactly what this verse is speaking against. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:36.160 And that's something we take seriously here as a church. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.599 If you ask for help, we may ask you for some extra information. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.839 We may ask to see your bills and your spending habits and things like that. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:57.680 Not because we're suspicious of you as a person, but we never want to give in a way that helps or enables someone to live in that life of self-indulgence or luxury that is not necessary. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:00.079 Now look at verse 8. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:10.079 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:15.119 Paul just keeps going back to this theme of the family needs to help first. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.720 He's going to do it one more time today. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.599 This is the second time. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:19.039 He's going to do it three times. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:32.880 You know, if you don't take care of your own house, your own parents, your own grandparents when they are in need, and obviously you're able to in some capacity, it says, don't even bother calling yourself a Christian. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:36.079 Because you've denied the faith in your actions. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:40.000 Maybe not in your words, but you've denied your faith in your actions. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:46.400 Again, if they're set financially, if they don't need your help, don't force yourself on them. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:50.559 Like, I'm going to be godly and I'm going to take care of you or whatever it might be. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.640 That's not what we're talking about here. 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:58.960 It's when they need it and you're not stepping in and you're leaving it to the church. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.279 That's the context of what we're looking at here. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:09.440 You know, think of what Jesus' last order of business was on the cross before he said, it is finished. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:12.079 It was taking care of his mom. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:17.039 Taking care of his responsibility to take care of his mother. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.880 He said, Hey, John, here's your mom. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:21.359 Hey, mom, here's your son. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.039 John, take care of her. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:27.759 And John actually took her into his home as her own. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.079 Jesus was concerned about that. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:32.880 His last order of business before he said it is finished. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.400 Isn't that interesting? 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.599 So here's some specific qualifications. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:43.519 If the widow already meets the previous qualifications that we've been talking about, verse 9. 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:57.519 No widow is to be enrolled on the list, so that's that list we were talking about, for support unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, and is well known for good works. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.000 That is, if she has brought up children. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.799 Now, this actually doesn't mean it has to be biological. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:15.119 It means she's helped with the care physically or spiritually of children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:23.519 So she has lived a very godly life, and the fruits of her life and ministry are evident. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:36.880 Really telling the church, you need to be fruit inspectors for these women before you put them on this role, on this list of people and make this agreement with them. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:44.720 You know, if a woman hasn't done all of these things yet calls herself a Christian, the church shouldn't support her long term. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.319 And sometimes that might seem harsh, like, oh, you know, who are we to judge? 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.880 You know, it's like, well, we're kind of told to here. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:59.759 We need to be fruit inspectors before we start giving money out to people that say, I'm a Christian, but then they're living that opposite life. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:07.519 Now, before we get in and we read verse 11 here, I want to read to you 1 Corinthians 7, 8 through 9. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:12.799 It's going to help us, I think, in combination with this verse to kind of understand everything we're talking about. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:20.000 It says, I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain as I am. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.160 If they remain single, as Paul is. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:30.799 Verse 9, but if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:33.279 Now keeping that in mind, look at verse 11. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.559 But refuse to enroll younger widows. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:41.119 So if they are a widow, they're obviously not called to singleness, right? 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.880 So let's just get that out of the way. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:56.079 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:23:01.039 I really like what Warren Wearsby writes about this verse, so I just want to read it to you. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:07.839 He says, Because of their age, younger widows are naturally attracted to men and want to marry again. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.839 What is so bad about that? 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:17.519 Paul seems to imply that each of the widows enrolled pledged herself to remain a widow and serve the Lord in the church. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:27.519 This pledge must not be interpreted as a vow of celibacy, nor should we look on this group of ministering widows as a special monastic order. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:35.680 There seemed to be an agreement between the widows and the church that they would remain widows and serve the Lord. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:39.839 That's, of course, if they jumped into this list and wanted to be on this list. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:48.079 So as you can see, this isn't against widows remarrying in any sense, or against widows still having a desire for men. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.920 It's not even speaking against that. 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:56.400 It's speaking against making a pledge to the church of celibacy and then not being able to keep it. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:05.519 Because a couple years down the road, you meet that guy, and it's like, oh man, I really like this guy, and you know, you don't want to be on that list anymore. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:18.319 So he's saying, if that's you, get remarried, as that's gonna help you stay pure, and it's gonna help really to keep you busy with family, which we're gonna get to here in a minute. 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.000 But first, let's look at verse 13. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:28.880 This is still regarding young widows that shouldn't receive long-term support because it's gonna lead them into, well, look at verse 13. 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:35.119 At the same time, they're also to learn they also learn to be idle, going from house to house. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:41.039 They're not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn't say. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:47.599 Idle hands are the devil's workshop, devil's playground, however you know that one. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.799 That is not scripture, but it's still very, very true, isn't it? 00:24:51.359 --> 00:25:02.480 If you give a young widow all of her support, and she has no responsibility to the church or to a family, you're only enabling idle hands. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:06.880 We should never enable idle hands. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:14.559 We should never enable self-indulgence because it leads to all kinds of sin, like we just saw in verse 13. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:19.759 So, what's the answer to all this and to the sexual desire and to the idleness? 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.119 Look at verse 14. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:31.680 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:38.720 Stay busy with the blessings God has given you, because if you don't, look at what's going to happen in verse 15. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:42.960 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:45.599 So this was an issue in Ephesus. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:49.039 You know, some were already led astray by this. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:55.680 And it led to the church being slandered, it seems like, about how they were helping widows. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:58.640 Maybe it was, you know, they don't even take care of their own. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:09.039 Or on the opposite side, look, they're enabling these busybodies to continue being busybodies, and they just keep giving them money and they're not doing anything good with it. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:13.759 The church and the widows need to stay above reproach, is basically what this is saying. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:20.319 By following these instructions that Paul is giving them through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.400 Now look at verse 16. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:28.319 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:34.240 Let the church not be burdened so that it can help widows in genuine need. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:38.720 Like I said, that's the third time he's going back to the family, just in twelve verses. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:43.359 The family should take care of their own family first. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:51.039 This time he's admonishing specifically the women that have widows in their families to take care of them. 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:54.720 You know, this is not letting men off the hook by any means. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:27:03.759 But in this culture, women were typically the ones in the home during the week, and they're probably the ones that can help these widows the most. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:06.640 And this might be in the sense of helping them stay busy. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:18.000 Hey, come into my home, help me cook dinner, help me with the kids, help me with the livestock, whatever it might have been, giving them something to do, kind of earning their keep within the family. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:29.839 But as you can see, so we've gone through these verses today, the overarching theme here is for the church to take care of those who genuinely need it. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:37.599 For those that need it and don't have family, while at the same time not enabling idleness. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:45.359 You know, Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3.10, if anyone isn't willing to work, he should not eat. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:51.119 That word willing is important because they might not be able to, and we should be supporting those people. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:57.200 But if anyone isn't willing to work and has the ability to work, that person shouldn't eat. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:07.039 The idea is if you're able to work and you choose idleness instead, people should not be enabling that in any in any sense. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:10.960 Because hunger is a great motivation to work, isn't it? 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:16.079 But in the midst of all of this, we're also called to be extremely generous. 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:28.880 Throughout scripture, that's just a theme, to be extremely generous with everything that the Lord has given us, to be givers, to give to the Lord, or to give to others as if we're giving to the Lord. 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:41.119 You know, as I've told you in the past, if you're really not sure of when to be generous or when is this going to be enabling, and in all of those different things that we all I know struggle with in different ways. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:45.279 If you're going to err, err on the side of grace. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:49.039 I really believe that when it comes to giving. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:59.119 You know, because oftentimes we even if we make a mistake and we do once give somebody something and it actually enables them, oftentimes time is going to tell. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:04.799 And we're going to know better for the next time whether we should be giving or not in that time. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:24.400 You know, you may help somebody with their rent, but then they come back to you next month and they ask for more help and you realize they haven't been looking for jobs, they've been sitting on their couch watching TV, they've been using your money to buy steak and beer, you know, and all that kind of stuff, and you're just like, well, now you know. 00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:31.119 First time you erred on the side of grace, but then now you realize no, I can't further support that person. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:36.559 I can't enable their idleness and their self-indulgence in that way. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:42.079 Now you know for sure, yeah, I shouldn't be giving that person help with their rent. 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:47.519 The other thing too is if somebody comes up to you on the street, like, what do I do then? 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.480 That's hard. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:57.920 You know, it's like you want to be generous, but then you're like, are they just gonna turn around and and use this to buy, you know, a bottle of liquor or something like that? 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:02.720 And in those moments, rely on the Holy Spirit. 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.960 Really just rely on the Holy Spirit. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:09.200 There's been times where that's happened, and I just feel the Lord like, no way. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:13.920 Like, you can offer to pray for them or you know, or something like that. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:20.480 Um, but then there's other times where the Lord's like, feel like like, yeah, help this person out, buy them a burger, buy them a sandwich. 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:27.200 You know, um, it's it's rarely good to just hand them a lot of cash, but to actually get them something that they actually need. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:31.680 Um, but just really rely on the Holy Spirit speaking to you in those moments. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:34.559 And if you err, at least you erred on the side of grace. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:37.759 I think it's a good policy to have in that way. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.920 But as a church, this is why we have a benevolence fund. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:49.920 It's money that is set aside before it's even needed to specifically uh be given to our congregation. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:54.880 Somebody that is genuinely, there's that word again, that is genuinely in need. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:58.880 And if you've given to this church, you've given to that fund. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:14.559 So I just want to encourage you, please don't feel guilty if you need to ask for help from that fund when you are genuinely in need, when you're not living a life of indulgence and you're being wise with your money. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:22.480 You know, everybody falls on hard times at certain times in their life, and they just need a little bit of help to kind of get their head back above water again. 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:31.599 People can often feel like they're stealing from God if they ask for money, you know, from the church, if they're asking for help in any way. 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:34.079 But I assure you, we don't feel that way at all. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.839 The money is already set aside. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:43.680 It's specifically for our church body, it can't be used for anything else except those that are genuinely in need. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:51.519 You know, we've used it to help people with groceries, car repairs, medical bills, rent, you know, things like that. 00:31:52.079 --> 00:32:00.160 Where somebody we, it's somebody we know and they're careful with their finances and they're just legitimately in a bind. 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:03.440 And they just need a little help to get back on their feet. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:08.960 You know, we're more than helping than happy to help somebody that's in that position. 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:23.759 Now, if we find that that person keeps coming back, we're probably gonna ask that they receive some financial counseling, um, that they get some help putting a budget together, getting their finances in order. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.799 Because we really don't want to just give you a fish. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.559 We really want to teach you how to fish. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:34.960 We want to help you get back on your feet, you know, in that way and not enable anything that might not be healthy. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:37.440 We want to really help you in that way. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:40.640 But that's why, really, we want to be a generous church. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.640 That's why 20% of everything that comes in goes back out the door. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.920 At least we try to get it as close to that percentage as we can. 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.640 Benevolence is a part of that. 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:56.240 That we want to go back out into the church for those that are genuinely in need. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.359 Because we want to be generous. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:59.440 We want to be a giving church. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:04.240 And we want to just encourage you to just also be generous in your own life. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.720 I'm not talking about the tithe box over there. 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.880 I'm not, this isn't a sermon about that. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:13.599 This is in your own life with the people that God's put in your life and things like that. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:18.079 Just be a generous giver of the things God's given you. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:20.799 Just give them back for his kingdom. 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:32.480 You know, if you have a widow in your family or a family member that's in need, or even a friend or a neighbor or something like that, just be generous with them. 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:49.359 If you feel like it's gonna cause some weirdness in your relationship with that person, put some cash in an unmarked envelope and figure out a way to anonymously give it to them to just kind of help get back on their feet, and then there's no weirdness in your relationship with them or whatever that might be. 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:59.519 I mean, that's happened with Michelle and me on more than one occasion where things might have gotten a little bit tight, and all of a sudden, you know, check shows up with a mail envelope or something like that. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:08.880 Um, actually, the the truck that I drive right now, when we first moved up here, uh I was working at Shoreline and commuting for Matascadero. 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:13.119 This is uh 2014, but then my truck started breaking down. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:18.480 I was in the shop like three times in a week and a half, and uh it was just becoming a money pit. 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:26.320 And I was like, okay, we need to look for a new vehicle, and then realized even used vehicles are really expensive, you know, and and all that kind of stuff. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:32.159 But we were looking for another truck, and then two things happened through people's generosity. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:39.760 One, in my backpack at the church office at Shoreline, an envelope full of stuff full of hundred dollar bills was stuffed in my backpack. 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:44.480 And with a note, like, use this for your new vehicle, because they knew something was going on. 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:46.400 Still to this day don't know who that was. 00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:52.000 Um, and then a friend my dad worked with, he uh gave me that truck for half a blue book. 00:34:52.159 --> 00:35:01.280 Um, it was his old truck, and and just through his generosity, and I was like, holy cow, 11 years later, still driving that thing has been a huge blessing to the family. 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:05.920 But it was through the generosity of other people and things happening like that. 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:08.719 It was just like, whoa, God, thank you so much. 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.159 Just be a part of that. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:14.400 And then on sometimes when it's a need, you're gonna get to be on the receiving end of that. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:20.239 But all that to say, just be generous with one another for God's kingdom specifically. 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:23.519 Be generous with the things that God has given you. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:30.239 So today, I want you to leave with this regarding giving. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:34.800 As we're just saying, be generous, be filled with grace. 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:39.199 Listen to the Holy Spirit when he's prodding you to be generous. 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:42.159 Listen to the Holy Spirit when he's saying, no, no, no, uh-uh. 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:46.960 This this person is not gonna use it for good things. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:50.719 I think the second thing, be wise in your giving. 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:57.280 You know, don't enable, but in grace, be wise in how you give. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:36:01.039 And then third, I think the theme throughout this is take care of your family. 00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:04.079 That needs to be first before the church steps in. 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:06.239 Take care of your family. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:12.719 This is a way that we know we can pursue godliness is by taking care of those that are in our own family. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.320 Would you please pray with me? 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:16.880 Lord, thank you so much for your word. 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:34.800 Lord, I pray that um that you would guide us, just taking all of this information in, that it wouldn't become head knowledge, but you would show us how to practically apply this in our daily lives, uh, to be generous, to take care of family, um, to walk by the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.320 Lord, so would you do these things in and through us? 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:40.880 We're just so dependent upon you for everything. 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:44.639 So would you help us to walk uh in these ways we pray? 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:46.159 In Jesus' name. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.039 Amen.