Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage bring to mind the parable of the Prodigal Son.
This verse is profoundly blunt and deadly serious.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:6 – Taking God at His Word”
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
Summary: Paul is giving instructions to Timothy regarding a special case of giving — making a commitment to support someone for the rest of their life.
In this passage, Paul gives us three tests to be used in determining who is “really in need.” Remember, we are not talking about a one-time handout. A ‘widow in need’ needs help for the rest of her life. That is a big commitment and one worthy of caution before making it.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:5 – Real Need”
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
Summary: True religion begins at home.
Caring for family is one of the great blessings of life. It is also one of the great challenges! Interestingly, putting our religion into practice is a very similar challenge.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:4 – True Religion”
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.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:3 – Wants & Needs”
…older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Summary: Paul’s words challenge men to treat women with purity, echoing the words of the Old Testament laws.
Paul’s instructions to Timothy provide clear guidance on how to treat people. Not only people in church, but all people. In this passage, Paul once again instructs Timothy about those older and younger than he is. This time, the focus is on women.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:2a – In Search of Purity”
Treat younger men as brothers…
Summary: Paul’s instruction to Timothy about younger men is part of our Lord’s plan for setting things right in the world.
Life is hard without Jesus.
I remember, when I was very young, hearing someone say, “Too bad life doesn’t come with an instruction manual!” It was a comment that seemed to capture all the confusion of life’s many decisions and turning points.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:1b – Little Brother”
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father.
Summary: Paul gives Timothy specific instructions for correcting the behavior of older men.
Old men hate to be rebuked, especially “harshly”!
Let’s face it, “old men” have been around for a while. They know things. Even if the things they know are not useful anymore, they still know things simply because they have survived as long as they have.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 5:1a – For Father’s Sake”
Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Summary: Once again, Paul challenges us to dive into the Greek to understand what he is trying to tell us.
In the last meditation, “1 Timothy 4:16a – Me, Myself, and I,” we looked at Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “Watch your life and doctrine closely.” Paul wasn’t reprimanding Timothy in any way, but was instead encouraging and cautioning him as one worker does to a co-worker.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:16b – The Test of Fire”
Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Summary: Paul’s use of Greek once again challenges us to consider the deeper meaning of what he was trying to say.
We often talk about the difference between the meanings of the original Greek words and the English translations, but in this case, we have one more barrier to cross.
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:16a – Me, Myself, and I”
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Summary: Paul’s choice of words becomes important as we push hard to better understand his meaning.
Now and then, we have to stop, pause, and ask, “What did Paul really say?”
Continue reading “1 Timothy 4:15 – A Mind Made New”