1 TIMOTHY 5:1-8 RELATIONSHIPS ABOVE REPROACH

1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 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. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

In the Old Testament, the prophets continuously use the orphans, the widows and the sojourners/strangers/aliens as icons for the necessity to care for those who cannot care for themselves as a reflection of God’s nature. While Jewish regulations of the time only applied to Jews, Christianity applied the same teaching to the consideration of all our neighbors. As such, the seeds for social services were planted in the secular world by the Church. Built into the teaching on caring for others was the prohibition against abused of the system by those of the church community.

Likewise, the hierarchy of the religious community of the Jews was to be a reflection of God’s order in creation and a symbol of the respect with which God’s will was to be held in his earthly community. This was not a prohibition against criticism and correction, but rather a prohibition against attacking and belittling the person. One is reminded of King David’s reaction to the news that Saul, who had repeatedly tried to kill David, had been killed. The young man comes and reports that he had a hand in fulfilling Saul’s request to be killed and David says to the young man, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (2 Samuel 1:15). David had every reason to hate Saul and rejoice at his death, but he mourned for Saul out of respect for the fact that deranged as he was, Saul was still God’s anointed leader over Israel. We recognize that every person has been created by God and in God’s image, therefore, no matter how marred that image has become and how disobedient that person is, we are to treat them with dignity and respect in reverence to God.

We respect the aged ones among us for they are the repository of the wisdom of the ages which both helps us to know God and avoid repeating their mistakes. We respect those who are younger for through them the Lord has chosen to prosper his kingdom until his return. In all relationships we are to see God’s hand in at least the creation of the other, and recognize that there is a universal call to value and respect all human beings. Therefore it is incumbent on those in positions of leadership in the church and the family to model supporting one another and respecting all persons.

Father, give me the eyes to be able to see all persons as you see them and as you have created them. Help me to model your love and grace in all my relationships, no matter how casual or superficial. At the same time prevent me from expecting others to provide for me. May I live in active obedience of you and for the purpose for which you created me. Amen.