Leave No One Out

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Opening Prayer

Lord, thank You that today is the day You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it, giving thanks to You.

Read 1 Timothy 5:1-16

^[1] Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, ^[2] older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. ^[3] Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ^[4] 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. ^[5] 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. ^[6] But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ^[7] Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ^[8] Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ^[9] No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ^[10] and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. ^[11] As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ^[12] Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ^[13] Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. ^[14] So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. ^[15] Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. ^[16] 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.

Meditate

In our individualistic, mobile society, we Christians need to be aware of those for whom we have ongoing responsibility, both in our families and in our church.

Think Further

Through the years, our Western societies have changed the ways the marginalized, disadvantaged, and needy are cared for. Governments, in many cases, have taken on these responsibilities. Unfortunately, things are not as effective and efficient as we would like them to be. Consider these few principles in searching your understanding of God’s expectations about helping the needy.

Everyone in the community is responsible to help needy persons. This is a frequently ignored principle in a society where other institutions besides the church provide services. The Christian principle stated by Paul makes the family responsible for its members (4,8,16). Today’s generation tends to relegate their responsibility to public services in caring for the needy.

Those receiving assistance should also be ready to help the needy (9-10). The fact that someone was a widow did not automatically make that widow qualify for assistance. Even if widows qualify, it was expected that they also help others in need. Those capable of helping, even if they receive the benefits of the community, are also asked to be serving others (9-10).

The community is responsible to assess the degree of the need (3,5). Paul indicates that a person, if capable, is responsible to care for himself or herself.

Assistance to the needy must be supported by an ethical lifestyle (4,8-10). This is a principle for both the giver and the receiver. The great virtue of Christian giving is that goes beyond the reach of other institutions by making personal contact between the giver and the receiver; it makes them connect to a different level. This principle is corrupted when one pays others to do the service, when getting personally involved is an option.

Apply

Do you agree that goodwill to others must be supported by the personal ethical conduct of the helper?

Closing prayer

Lord, I need to feel as You feel, to care as You care, to include the marginalized, and to give dignity and respect to all I meet.

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