Talk About a Loaded Passage!

So much here.  Some a bit random.  I think I'll just break it up with my commentary which will be in italics.

1 Timothy 5:1-22(NKJV)

1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 

2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.

Notice it doesn't say don't correct  at all.  It just prescribes how to do it for certain groups of people.  BTW, doesn't it require a judgment be made if you are going to correct someone?  Just another example that "thou shall not judge" isn't a total ban on judgment. 

3Honor widows who are really widows. 

Requires a judgment.  Who are really widows and who aren't?

4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is £good and acceptable before God. 

5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 

6But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 

7And these things command, that they may be blameless. 

8But 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.

Lots of stuff here on widows which I think can be instructive when applied to all who seek charity.  First off notice it says that we should take care of our own.  Meaning family should take care of family first. 

In our world today you hear people who are able to take care of their families condemned.  It's not fair that they have so much and that their relatives get a helping hand, an advantage that isn't available to everyone. 

But notice what Scripture says. 

8But 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.

Apparently as part of our walk with God, he expects us to use our God given talents and abilities to be successful so that we can care for others.

9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 

10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

Notice the qualifications for charity for a widow.  It seems to essentially say take care of her if she was of good reputation. If not, apparently she is on her own.   Just because she may be poor or she may be hungry, according to Scripture she isn't automatically eligible for charity.   

11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 

12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 

13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 

A blanket rejection of charity for a whole class of persons, young widows.  Notice the warning against idleness, especially as it relates to working age people.  Seems me to be a warning against making life so easy for people of working age that they don't have to work.  Idleness seems to lead to other bad results.

14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 

15For some have already turned aside after Satan. 

16If any believing £man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Here again we have Scripture reiterating that we need to take care of our own so that they don't burden the church. 

17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 

18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” £ and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”£ 

Pay people what they are worth, some work is worth more than others.  Honor those who do well.  Unlike some nutty school system this year that cancelled Honors Night which honored the best students; because it wasn't fair and was too exclusive.

19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 

20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

Again, that would take a judgment wouldn't it?

21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. 

When you target one group at the expense of another group, Scripture tells us that is wrong.  As an example when you target the rich just because they have more to give to the poor just because they have less, that is showing partiality.    However well intentioned, Scripture tells us that is wrong.

22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.