Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 10. The lesson on April 29, 2007 is the tenth lesson on the audio series called the “Timothy Study”. The scripture for this lesson is chapter 5 of 1 Timothy verses 1 thru 16. Paul writes Timothy in chapter 5 about practical lessons on administration in the church, particularly in regards with widows. The chapter starts out with wisdom expressed in the means of handling elders. Timothy is told not to rebuke an elder but treat them like family members as if they were brothers. There is often a comparison of family members with other Christians in the body of Christ. In verses 3 to 10 Paul is specifically speaking about two types of widows: Widows, and Widows indeed. Why the distinction? Isn’t a woman that has lost her husband a widow? Yes but she is not a widow indeed unless she meets the criteria set forth in verse 5 “Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” An example of a widow indeed is Anna from Luke 2:36-37 ”And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” God cares about the widow. For example, in Luke 18:1-6 Jesus tells of a judge that fears not God or man but when he is approached by the widow, this judge is moved to avenge her. In Luke 18:7 it says “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith . And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” We also find in Deuteronomy 10:17-18 “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible , which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” Also in Chapter 27:19 it says “Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.” God loves the widow! The difference between the widow and the widow indeed is the condition of being desolate. We don’t see much of that today because the government has taken the place of the church with social security. Men also have taken advantage of using estate planning with the use of life insurance so the widow is financially okay.