If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
Summary: Paul continues his instructions about caring for widows.
One of the things I like about the Bible is the underlying common sense.
God knows who we are. He knows our hearts and knows how we think. Nothing surprises him. So when Paul talks to the church about taking care of widows, he is not given to sentimentality.
In fact, it is exactly the opposite.
Paul is clear-eyed about the practical realities of offering people free food.
After all, imagine if you were offered free food. Wait, let’s make it more interesting. Imagine that you lived two thousand years ago. There are no social safety nets. People who don’t work starve.
If you can’t find work to do, you go hungry. Some people get so tired of being hungry that they sell themselves as slaves simply because at least a slave has food to eat.
Take the Prodigal Son for example (Luke 15:11-32). He took his inheritance and thought he was a rich man. Then he spent all his money on “wild living.” He might have thought he would be okay, even if he had to work for a living, but there was a severe famine in the land (v 14). Food was scarce, and the young man found himself with nothing to eat. The Bible says he worked on a farm feeding pigs. He was so desperate: “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything” (v 16).
Now, imagine you are that hungry, and someone offers you free food. Are you going to take it?
Of course you are!
What if, later, when the famine has passed, and you can save a little money, you are still offered free food? Do you still take it?
Human nature suggests that you will.
People are like that.
That is why Paul is so cautious about letting the church pass out free food paid for by the gifts of the believers. When others have real needs, there might not be money left to help them.
And so, Paul counsels that women who have been caring for widows should continue to do so.
Is that fair?
Is it fair to grow old and not have anyone around to care for you? The church is there for the truly needy, but Paul is careful to guard against envy and gluttony.
Application: Managing what God gives us requires discernment and wisdom.
Food for Thought: How do you define “real need”?
How do you define “real need”?
Physically speaking: oxygen, nutrients, water, protection from the elements (shelter, clothing). Those things serve to sustain physical life, meaning their absence endangers physical life.
I would argue that we need love, hope, and peace to live, meaning the presence of those things makes life more abundant, gives life meaning and purpose, promotes fruitfulness, and gives strength and perseverance. These things can carry us through the absence of our physical needs. I believe people without love, hope, and peace quickly devolve into “thieves” because their own self-preservation and gratification become the focus of their life.
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
James 4:1-2
4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Matthew 6:31-33
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said! I especially appreciate your emphasis on the power of love (agapē) to sustain us.
How do you define “real need”?
In the bible, a true need is greater than mere physical necessities and includes spiritual fulfillment as well as communal responsibility.
Matthew 6:31-33, So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
At The Same Time!
At the same time, believers are called to act on the needs of others, emphasizing the communal aspect of need; if someone lacks basic provisions, it is the responsibility of the community to serve and support those individuals as a demonstration of genuine faith through action.
James 2:15-16, Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” while doing nothing about these physical needs, what good is it?
Thank you, Ron!
Yes — we have real spiritual needs as well as physical needs. Excellent point!