Saturday 13 July 1 Timothy 5.1-16 Qn. 4,7

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father (1): Timothy was a young pastor who still needed to learn and grow spiritually. In this Church of Ephesus, there were may be others like Timothy who were zealous for the work, but they were still young. So Paul trains them to know how to respect those young ones, not only the elders but also all the other members of the Church. What this kind of training was aimed at is very similar to God’s commandment to the Israelites to respect the elders (Leviticus 19.32). Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows (16) : The Church of Jesus Christ is built on people who are saved and agree to have a purposeful union, if there is a weak member in the Church it makes the Church not grow well. Paul, after seeing this, encourages the members of the Church to help the widows who are extremely in need of basic resources, and it should not be done by one person, but men and women should take the lead in helping those who are burdened. Consider: “…’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20.35) Amazingly giving does not require a lot of wealth, but a generous personality. Song 384 (Praises)