MOOR of the Word with Pastor Chuck Pourciau

“Honor” is a word that generally means respect or regard, but it can also refer to financial support. The use here could be compared to the English word “honorarium” which is when money is given to someone to honor them. 

Paul, as was his custom, does not refer to money directly. He prefers instead to deal with the heart attitude that will result in remuneration. Those who honor elders will not begrudge generosity in paying their support. All elders are entitled to financial support as well as respect.

The church will rise no higher than the level of its leadership. Therefore, the church must be diligent in recognizing, installing, and supporting its leaders. Just think of the tragedy of the failure of God’s people, Israel. It’s failure is was a failure of leadership. The story of Israel’s leaders is one of decline, apostasy, and defection, which led to the defection of the people.

By remarrying and rearing a family, a young widow will avoid bringing reproach on the cause of Christ. Consistent with her calling as described in verse 10, she will avoid falling into some sexual sin or some perversion of God’s intended role for women. On the other hand, those who violate God’s purposes give ammunition to the enemies of the church. So, by marrying, bearing children, and keeping the home, she is removing ammunition from the weapons of the enemy. 

And that is how we must conduct ourselves. We need to realize that our actions and words will, if possible, be used by the enemy. Therefore, we need to take care in how we present ourselves so as not to give the enemy an occasion for reproach. 

Paul has been explaining why younger widows shouldn’t be on the list of widows who participate in participate in the ministry of mentoring younger women and children. The first reason he gave in the previous verse is that they may find the vow to remain a widow until death a vow too difficult to keep. Here, in verse 13, he offered a second reason.

This second reason is their lack of maturity. According to the original language, they too often qualify as idlers. Visits that should be for the purpose of ministry are now occasions for idleness “as they go around from house to house.” Nothing constructive occurs, and trivial activity occupies her. 

The verb translated “refuse” is a very strong one, offering no wiggle room. In I Timothy 4:7, it was used to speak of rejecting false teaching. Paul provided two reasons for not entrusting these younger widows with this particular ministry role.

We noted in 1 Timothy 5:10 that Paul stated that the widow who is qualified to do ministry to younger women must have a reputation of good works. In the remainder of the verse, Paul shows us some of what such a reputation entails. 

Please understand that these are qualities that should be evidenced in any woman who follows Jesus. Therefore, if they become 60-year-old widows, they will automatically qualify for this list. First, she stated that she should be one who has “brought up children.” The verb translated “brought up children” appears only here in the New Testament. This depicts the godly widow as a Christian mother, rearing godly children in a way to direct them toward following the Lord. She has no greater privilege or responsibility. 

Their duties surely included helping with the baptism of women, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, teaching and discipling younger women, helping younger women rear and nurture their children, and providing hospitality for visitors and strangers. They may have also assisted in placing orphans into proper Christian homes. That was a very important ministry in the Roman world, since orphaned or abandoned children wound up as slaves, and often as prostitutes or gladiators. With their own husbands gone and their children grown, those widows had the time to pursue such essential ministries.

The church’s reputation, and that of her Lord, are at stake. According to Paul, by supporting those widows who are deserving, and refusing to support those who are not, the church, as well as its pastors, will be above criticism and God will be honored.

Paul flipped over the coin and showed them the negative side of his admonition to be certain to care for the godly widows in their family and in their church family. His bluntness shines forth when he declared that failure to do so is to deny the faith and become worse than an unbeliever. Even unbelievers naturally care for their aged family members. Evidently, there refusing to care for one’s godly parent or grandparent was a problem for some in the church at Ephesus. 

What does it mean that she has fixed her hope on God. It means that she knows that God has promised in the Scriptures to care for widows, and she trusts him to do so in her circumstance. As the Lord said in Jeremiah 49:11, “Let your widows trust in Me.” 

Believer may choose to help non-Christian widows and that is admirable and good, but the church is obligated to provide for the believing ones. I am reminded of Galatians 6:10: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Notice that he said that we are honor widows who are “widows indeed.” What’s the difference between a widow and a widow indeed? Not all widows are fully alone and without means. They may have family close by or even in the same home. They and their husbands may have been good stewards and she may have a secure retirement income. Widows indeed are the ones who are widows in need.