1 Timothy 5:1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Timothy is to treat older men as fathers - with respect for their experience - understanding - and wisdom. Younger men are treated as brothers. Older women as mothers. Younger women as sisters - with no romantic involvement.

Some of you may be saying, “Paul’s writing to Timothy the pastor. So, this really doesn’t apply to me.” We need to be reminded that while Paul wrote to Timothy the entire Ephesian Church was reading over Timothy’s shoulder. There’s a reason the church preserved this letter for us. What Paul writes is for all of us. In our relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ - there’s to be caring and compassion and love and respect and honor for each other.

That’s hard. Relationships between the generations is something we struggle with. Differing perspectives - attitudes - issues in our lives. Trying to understand where each of us is coming from.

We struggle with these relationships in the midst of an American society where love is selfish - focused on what we gain not on what we can give. Youthfulness is exalted. Seniors are abandoned and warehoused in “homes.” Seniors are seen as those who have outlived their usefulness. The Church of Euthanasia - advocating death for those who’ve outlived their usefulness - has a motto: “Save the Planet - Kill Yourself.”

Those who live touched by God’s love live differently. Praise God! Paul - in verses 3 to 16 takes one of these relationships - taking care of widows - and uses this relationship as an example - as a challenge for us - of how we can care for and honor and love each other.

Look at this example with me. Verse 3 - Paul writes - Honor widows who are widows indeed;

Widow in Armenian “vorpevairee” is related to “vorp” - “orphan.” If there was one group within the church that needed caring for it was the widows. In the male dominated culture of that day they really were orphans in the true sense of the word. There was no life insurance income - no social security - no job opportunities. It was very easy to become alone and desperate.

In Acts 6 - we read that the church wrestled with this issue. How do we help the widows? Who really needs the help? The solution they came up with was to make a list of widows. Resources were allocated so that the needs of the widows could be met. In return - the widows seem to have been asked to make a commitment to the church - for the remainder to their years they were to be celibate - dedicated only to ministry in the church.

Paul writes, Honor widows who are widows indeed - in other words - this is what qualifies a widow to be on the list. There’s five qualifications.

First - in verse 4 - they have to be really on their own. but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

Before the church should be expected to care for a widow - so far as its possible - its up to the family to take care of their own. Which is something Armenians do well. Its unthinkable - shameful - for a senior in our community to be abandoned by their family. Children honor their parents - give back to their parents - caring for them when they can’t care for themselves.

Second qualification - verse 5 - widows are to be pursuing Godliness. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe and teach these things as well - tell widows this - so that they may be above reproach.

The goal of a godly widow is not to live in an expensive house - drive around in expensive cars - playing bridge with the ladies - taking trips and cruising the Caribbean - focused on herself. Widowhood focused on God is a great opportunity - with great purpose and usefulness and healing. When a widow made a commitment to be put on the list she committed herself to deepening her relationship with God and to ministry for Him.

“Her hope is in God.” She’s trusted in Jesus as her Savior and she’s faithfully - hopefully - looking forward to eternity with Him. She has a ministry of prayer. “Entreaties” - in Greek means prayers for specific issues. “Prayers” in Greek has to do with worship - a heart open to God and continually before Him in prayer.

She knows the needs of the congregation. She’s involved in people’s lives. This is so valuable. So many younger women would love to have a confidant to pray with them. An older sister to look to as an example of Godly womanhood. Younger men would love to look to an older women as a mother - someone to pray for them and encourage them.

Third qualification - verse 9. We’re going to come back to verse 8 in a bit. But, going on with Paul’s qualifications - verse 9 - A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old,

In those days generally people didn’t live to be 70 or 80. The idea is that a widow didn’t have much time left. But, in the time she had, she was to be devoted to ministry.

Fourth qualification - having been the wife of one man - meaning that she is a one-man woman. Divorce happens. Death happens. She may have been married more than once. But, this woman - when married - was faithful and supportive of her husband.

Fifth - verse 10 - having a reputation for good works. And, Paul gives a description of what that means: if she has brought up children - which speaks of her being a godly mother. if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet. In those days people wore sandals not shoes. When someone showed up at the house someone had to wash their feet - a dirty and disgusting job. It says a lot about the character of a woman if she was known to be willing to do this. Going on - if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

Five qualifications for widows to be put on the list. They need to be really alone. They need to be women of God. At least 60 years old. Faithful to her husband. And, fifth - having a reputation for good works.

In contrast, some widows were not to be supported. Verse 11: But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.

Younger widows had the possibility of marriage. If they got married it meant that they had break their promise to remain in celibate ministry in the church. Worse - people would start to talk - condemnation. “She only wanted our help so she could find a husband.”

Verse 13: At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

Young women - with all kinds of time on their hands - supported by the church - we’re destined to get themselves into trouble.

Therefore - verse 14 - I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

I’m sure these last two verses really get some people upset. Keep in mind what Paul is getting at. Satan loves to get us focused on any other thing than God and what God has for us. Paul is trying to help younger widows avoid falling into Satan’s hands. So, rather than getting on a list as a widow and getting into trouble, Paul says get married. Get yourself into the kind of relationship and responsibility that’s available to you and that’s going to keep you focused on what God has for you and keep you living for God.

Paul’s summary is in verse 16: If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. Caring for those who need to be cared for.

Thinking this through practically for us today, I’d like to go back to the verse we skipped - verse 8. Paul writes, But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

This is Paul’s challenge to the church. His point of application - asking us to examine our lives. If we don’t have this kind of caring relationship then how can we say we’re Christians? That’s a hard verse to hear. It is brutally straightforward and honest.

Let me suggest two thoughts of application.

First: The care of widows was purposeful and planned. As a ministry it was organized - with qualifications and expectations - it had a membership - a budget - a committee to oversee it. There’s also a larger picture here that we saw in verses 1 and 2. Paul’s talking about all our relationships together. Respecting older men. Seeing younger men as brothers - younger women as sisters - older women as mothers. That kind of intergenerational - interpersonal - caring needs to be purposeful and planned. It doesn’t just happen naturally.

There are seniors in our congregation that purposefully use the Fellowship Hour after church as a time to target young people - to speak with them - to get to know them. There are seniors who help with Sunday School. When our College & Career and Youth ministries put on their Annual Christmas Banquet they specifically honor and thank those who are older who have had a ministry to youth.

When I visit people who are sick I see cards that so many from the congregation have sent them. I hear about the phone calls - the gratitude for our prayers. On occasion we’ve given food or certificates for groceries. Clothing - furniture - cars - and other things - all shared with those in need. The Bazaar is another example - or the picnic - generations serving side by side in God’s ministry. Today’s Service of Worship - generations worshipping God together.

That’s what Paul is talking about - a purposeful - planned effort to care for - to honor - to respect - others in the Body of Christ. Church you are doing God’s ministry when you genuinely care for one another - when you “provide for your own” in God’s “household.” Not just the pastor or the deacons or a select few. Everyone has this opportunity to be in these kinds of caring relationships.

The second thought of application is this challenge in Paul’s words - if we don’t care for one another then we deny our faith. Saying we believe something but by our actions we deny what we say we believe.

Jesus was overwhelmed with compassion whenever He came across people who were sick and blind and oppressed and helpless. He entered into their pain - was moved to action - gave comfort and healing. Jesus - who impacted His society with God’s love - called on His disciples to do the same. (John 13:25)

That really is the bottom line. The purpose of the Church is to penetrate the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No where is the reality of the Gospel more clearly demonstrated than when the followers of Jesus Christ express the love of God to others.

According to the US Bureau of Census - the population of people 85 and older is expected to increase by over 33% by the year 2010. By the year 2020 the number of people needing assistance with daily living is expected to double. I share that as an example and a challenge for us.