Theological Commentary: Click Here
In many
respects, being a part of the church should be the easiest and most natural
thing in the world. After all, being a
part of the church should be no harder than participating in the best
thing. Being a part of the church
shouldn’t be any harder than finding where God is at work and joining up with
that.
As an
example, Paul tells Timothy to care for the widows. We should be concerned for those people who
do not have a means to support themselves or have a voice in the
community. Caring for such people should
be a natural extension of what it means to be the body of Christ.
As another
example, caring for those in our midst who are doing so much ministry that they
don’t have the time to care for their own needs. If someone is spending themselves caring for
others, shouldn’t we want to care for them?
Shouldn’t the example of the selfless ministry inspire us to participate
in selfless ministry of our own?
Unfortunately,
the reality is that belonging to a community of believers is no easier than
belonging to any other organization of human beings. Paul warns Timothy about widows who will look
to take advantage of being cared for by becoming gossips and lazy. There will always be people who bring charges
through their own jealousy or envy against those in leadership, which is why
Paul recommends to Timothy that such charges need to be sustained by multiple
witnesses.
In the end,
Paul simply is encouraging Timothy to do what makes sense to do within God’s
will. Care for people. Love people.
Show them grace and mercy. Do the
things that make sense. Do the things of
which Jesus would approve. However, don’t
be naïve. Understand that even in the
church people will take advantage. Do ministry
that makes sense, but don’t set up circumstances for people to take advantage
and walk into sinful habits.
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