To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.
"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."
Paul now offers instruction to Timothy on how to deal with widows in the church. Throughout the Bible, we see that widows, orphans, and aliens receive special mercy and grace from God, and that God expects us to take care of them. (See Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 24:17-21; Acts 6:1-7; James 1:27.)
Paul says that the church is to "give proper recognition" (literally, honor) to widows in need. However, if the widow has children or grandchildren, her family should take care of her. So her family is the number one entity responsible for taking care of her; if she has no family (or if her family refuses to care for her), the responsibility then falls to the church. (Notice that the state is no where in the picture here.)
The family that takes care of their own widow puts "their religion into practice." Maybe a better way to say that today is they put feet to their faith. A primary way that we live out our faith is by taking care of our own extended families.
Additionally, when we do this, we repay our parents and grandparents and we please God.
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