July 20
Family’s Responsibility to Widows
1 Timothy 5:3-8

  1. Honour widows that are widows indeed.
  2. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
  3. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
  4. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
  5. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
  6. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

The church is to honor and give aid and support to those that are widowed.  If they truly are without support, the church is to help them.  But it says here that if they have family, the family is to support and provide for them rather than the church.

A woman who is a true widow and has been left completely alone trusts God and perseveres in prayer.  Someone who lives in pleasure, or luxury and self-indulgence, is ‘dead while she lives.’

Ultimately, the family needs to provide for their own relatives who are in need and if they don’t they have ‘denied the faith’ and are worse than unbelievers.  The church is to watch out for those who are truly widows and left alone.

 

Confession:

I will take care of those in my own family who are widowed and in need of financial support.  I will support the church in helping those who are desolate and have no family to take care of them.

 

 

Obedience is a tree of life!