1 Timothy Chapter 5
In this chapter, Paul is giving his mentee (Timothy) some practical advice for guiding the church. Upon reading through the chapter, my mind went straight to the 10 commandments. Honor your Father and Mother. Then it was, treat those as you wish to be treated. Paul gets a little more specific with Timothy here, though. He brings attention to the older man, the widows, and the elders and how we and the church should be caring and treating them.
THE OLDER MAN – Don’t rebuke the older man but treat him as if he was your father. This is easy isn’t it? Look around, do you see everyone else doing this?? If we aren’t, we need to start. The world today needs to get back to showing a little more respect to one another and not just the ‘older man’. I am sure we call all agree some of that has been lost in translation of late. So let us listen to Paul here and work harder at treating people like family, older men and women like fathers and mothers and younger men and women like brothers and sisters. Start on Sunday mornings at church and carrying it into the beginning of the week at work with those around you. Continue to treat everyone with dignity, care and genuine love and not favoritism and partiality.
THE WIDOWS – In versus 3-16, Paul is talking about caring for widows and those in need like family. He goes more into detail on what types of widows and who is someone that is really in need. He describes that the certain care that should be given based on the relationship you have with that person. We need to make sure that we are caring for our immediate family first and foremost if we can do so, family should not be our neighbor’s sole responsibility. It becomes the church’s responsibility more so when someone doesn’t have anyone else to help them. He also warns against those who are taking advantage of the system, aka those who live carelessly and are more than capable of taking care of themselves. Basically, be generous, but also wise and fair. Help those that truly need it, family first, and pay close attention to those who have lived faithfully and have served others when they had the chance.
THE ELDERS – When Paul talks about ‘the elders’ he is not referencing Grandma and Grandpa. This is directed to leader in and of the church. Those who teach and preach. If there is a rumor being spread about an elder, don’t be the one to just continue the gossip. But if the gossip is true and witnessed by others, then they need to be corrected publicy and held accountable. I am not sure if this is really happening in 2025 like Paul means it here, but honestly I think it needs to make a comeback. Interpretation and division have grown vast over time and there is some type of correcting that needs to take place to re-center many churches today. Just because someone is an elder in the church today doesn’t necessarily mean they deserve it or should be. Elders should be chosen without bias or favoritism and they themselves should keep these instructions moving forward. So, support good leaders, handle conflicts fairly, and don’t let gossip or bias cloud your judgment. Everyone’s true character eventually will show through.
As you go forward, keep in mind the integrity, responsibility and respect we should be expressing toward those in our lives. Treat others like you want to be treated. Take care of those in need, especially those you know who need it and can’t do it on their own. Honor the faithful and hold leaders in the church accountable and just. And live in a way that reflects wisdom and truth and remember, what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.