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Timothy 5: 1-24. ~ Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him
as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as
mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are
really in need. 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. 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.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even
while she lives. Give the people these instructions, so that no one may
be open to blame. Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and
especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse
than an unbeliever.
No widow may be put on the list
of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,
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.
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.
Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their
first pledge. 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. So I
counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes
and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact
already turned away to follow Satan.
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.
The
elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double
honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For
Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the
grain", and “The worker deserves his wages". "Do not entertain an
accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three
witnesses". But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before
everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the
sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these
instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
The
sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them;
the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are
obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden
forever.
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