1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
- P78
Paul instructs Timothy to treat older men as fathers, younger men as brothers,
older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters. The church mustcare for widows truly in need, who have no family left to provide for them.
Those who do not provide for their relatives are worse than unbelievers.
Younger widows are advised to marry. - P79
16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
- P79
Paul encourages Timothy to treat everyone in the church as if they were family members. This is a model for us to follow as we interact with other believers, who are members of the same spiritual family. Some people may speak harshly to their family members, but we are to care for one another in the church and treat everyone with respect regardless of age or gender. When we see believers as fellow members of God’s family, we tend to treat them differently. - P80
We have a familiarity and loving connection with them. We are willing to do more for a family member than we might do for a stranger. We should treat each other like family because we are family, united in Christ for eternity. - P80
In the early centuries, widows were vulnerable to economic and physicalharm. Without the financial support and protection of a husband or otherfamily members, widows were easily taken advantage of. They could fallinto poverty or worse. - P80
Paul makes clear that the church is to support andcare for the vulnerable and needy. When we help believers in need, weare doing God‘s work. Those who are able to care for their own familiesare encouraged to do so without demanding more assistance from thechurch. This allows the church to focus their resources on those who havethe greatest need. In this way, the most vulnerable receive all the love, care,
and support the church can provide. - P80
Heavenly Father, I am reminded of how important it is that everyone in Your family is treated with respect and receives Your love - P81
I confess that I sometimes struggle to see my spiritual brothers and sisters as family. Help me to love them as Jesus does. In His name I pray, amen. - P81
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