Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.
Summary: This passage touches on a topic that every Christian can relate to: how do we tell who is really in need?
This verse seems innocuous at first, but on closer examination, there is an important principle here.
First, what is Paul talking about? What kind of “recognition” do widows need?
In his book, “Acts of the Apostle,” Luke records this:
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)
Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?
At first, it probably was. People were overwhelmed with the power of the Holy Spirit and the joy of knowing the Lord. Then, the Bible records the first known division in the church:
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” (Acts 6:1)
It doesn’t sound quite as friendly, does it?
The trouble was that while both Hellenistic Jews and Hebraic Jews shared the same history and lineage, the Hebraic Jews, those more closely tied to Jerusalem and their traditional languages, appear to have looked down on the Jews who lived in the Gentile nations as ‘lesser’ Jews.
The solution to this first fracture was to divide the leadership of the church between the “ministry of the word of God” (Acts 6:2a, 4) and the ministry of material gifts (Acts 6:2b). Once this had been decided, questions started arising about how the gifts should be distributed.
Paul’s instructions in the verses that follow explain how to decide between who is truly needy and who is not, which raises the question, “What is the difference between a ‘want’ and a ‘need’?”
Everyone needs to eat, but having food to eat requires work. If we all did what we wanted, it would be hard to imagine everyone being able to eat.
The next best thing for someone who doesn’t want to work is to get someone else to share the fruits of their labor with them. Even better, get a whole group of people to share their food!
The temptation to take advantage of well-meaning believers is very real, and sincere believers are often confronted with the same challenges Timothy had to deal with: Who is really in need?
Application: Give to those in need (Luke 12:33).
Food for Thought: How do you decide who is really in need?
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Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:3 – Wants & Needs”
