1 Timothy 5
As a church leader, you will have to correct people. When we have to correct people because of the responsibility of leadership that God has given us, we should do it in the proper way. Paul now tells Timothy how to correct people in the proper way.
1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but {rather} appeal to {him} as a father, {to} the younger men as brothers,
2 the older women as mothers, {and} the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
With older men, our correction should take the form of an appeal, as if we are talking to our own father. With younger men, our correction should take the form of an appeal as if to our own blood brother. With older women, our correction should take the form of an appeal as if to our own mother. With younger women, our correction should take the form of an appeal as if to our own blood sister, without any sexual consideration.
A sharp rebuke is not the way to go.
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed;
4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.
6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
7 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.
8 But 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.
9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, {having been} the wife of one man,
10 having a reputation for good works; {and} if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, {and} if she has devoted herself to every good work.
11 But refuse {to put} younger widows {on the list,} for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married,
12 {thus} incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge.
13 At the same time they also learn {to be} idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper {to mention.}
14 Therefore, I want younger {widows} to get married, bear children, keep house, {and} give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has {dependent} widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
As a church leader, you will have to handle all kinds of issues. You must learn to handle them wisely. Paul takes an example and demonstrates how to do that sensibly.
Widows are only eligible for financial support from the church if they are over sixty and were married exactly once, and have raised children; those who were never married, or were divorced are not eligible. Neither are those who have lived for themselves, and aren’t known for helping people in need.
If a widow is spending money on her pleasures then she should not be supported. She should be considered for support only if she shows her dependence on God by earnest prayer.
Widows who need financial support should first attempt to get support from their own children and grandchildren. God shows favor towards children and grandchildren who support their widowed mother or grandmother. On the other hand, if a child or grandchild who claims to be a believer is not supporting the widow, or those of his own household, then he is not really a believer, and in fact, he is worse than an unbeliever.
17 The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
Church leadership isn’t only about correcting people; it is also about honoring those who do an excellent job in ministry.
People who do a good job of inspiring you, and teaching you about God, and how to be a godly person, are valuable to you, and you should show them how valuable they are by compensating them financially.
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful {of sinning.}
21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of {His} chosen angels, to maintain these {principles} without bias, doing nothing in a {spirit of} partiality.
Church leadership is not only about correcting the lay members, but also the leaders. But correcting church leadership is done slightly differently. This is because people (inspired by Satan) have a tendency to falsely accuse elders. Therefore, take an accusation seriously only if more than one person independently accuses the elder of the same thing.
Don’t be partial towards any elder, even if he is an old friend.
Elders who continue in sin should be rebuked in the presence of all. On the other hand, if it is a one-time thing, a private handling is better. This applies to things that haven’t violated the law of the land; for those, law enforcement has to be involved.
22 Do not lay hands upon anyone {too} hastily and thereby share {responsibility for} the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
23 No longer drink water {exclusively,} but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
Wine is okay for medical reasons, but not if it draws you into sin.
When dealing with others, be careful regarding who you partner with and empower, for if they sin, you share the responsibility.
24 The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their {sins} follow after.
25 Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.
God doesn’t judge every sin immediately. So just because a person appears to have the favor of God it doesn’t mean that God actually favors them. You have to operate with discernment.
Further, just because you see people doing good, it doesn’t mean that they don’t also do bad. The bad that is not seen by men is seen by God, and so you have to seek God for discernment concerning whom to partner with, rather than relying on your own wisdom.
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