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”?
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