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Answer
In 1 Timothy 5:1–16, the apostle Paul provides pastoral guidance to Timothy on how to nurture and support various groups of people in the church. Christians are instructed to treat members of the body of Christ as they would their own family (verses 1–3). However, special consideration is to be given to widows. Regarding widows, Paul instructs Timothy, “But if anyone does not provide for their relatives, and especially for members of their household, they have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers” «But if any provide not for their own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. », (1 Timothy 5:8, ESV).
God calls believers to be blameless «according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: », (Ephesians 1:4), to shine “like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” «that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; », (Philippians 2:15, NLT). One way to achieve this is by caring for our family members, especially those who are most in need and vulnerable. Paul instructed Timothy and the church to look after defenseless widows: “Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her” «Honour widows that are widows indeed. », (1 Timothy 5:3, NLT). The apostle emphasized the responsibility of believers to provide for th
Their own: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” «As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. », (Galatians 6:10).
If a widow had relatives who were followers of Jesus Christ and members of the church, then responsibility for their care shifted from the church to the family. Paul expected Timothy, as a church leader, to instruct families to support and care for their aging parents. The person who neglects such an important obligation, who “does not provide for his family,” is “worse than an unbeliever” because he has proven his lack of love and insincerity of faith. He is like those in the church who “claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” «They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.», (Titus 1:16). Paul’s assertion in 1 Timothy 5 implies that even unbelievers—those who lack faith in Jesus Christ and live without God’s Spirit—have enough good sense and compassion to care for and support their own household.
Throughout God’s Word, the Lord honors and defends widows and orphans. He is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5;see also Psalm 146:9;Proverbs 15:25). Since ancient times, Scripture has demanded justice, love, and support for widows and orphans (Deuteronomy 10:18;Deuteronomy 27:19;Psalm 140:12). God expects His people toProvide help and protection to those in need (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 24:17). Through the prophet, the Lord cried out, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” «learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.», (Isaiah 1:17).
Jesus Himself showed compassion and deep concern for widows (Luke 7:11-12; 18:1-8; Mark 12:38-40, 41-44). Even as He hung on the cross, our Lord entrusted His widowed mother to John’s care (John 19:26-27). The early believers continued in Scripture’s teaching and Christ’s example, appointing seven leaders “full of faith” to oversee the care of widows in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:1-7). James eloquently defined “pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father” as “caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” «Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.», (James 1:27, NLT).
In Jewish society, fathers and sons had a moral and legal obligation to provide for widowed daughters or mothers out of their dowry. According to dowry laws, a widow was to be cared for by the individual in charge of her dowry. Thus, a widow with a family should not need to rely on the church for support. For this reason, Paul told Timothy, “Support widows who are genuinely in need.”
“(1 Timothy 5:3;CSB;see also 1 Timothy 5:5).”
In 1 Timothy 5:4, Paul presents two compelling reasons for Christians to support their widowed family members. Firstly, it is a way to show gratitude to our parents and grandparents for caring for us in our youth. Secondly, “this is something that pleases God” (NLT). According to Paul, a Christian who neglects this essential act of compassion and love towards family falls below the standard of the irreligious, becoming “worse than an unbeliever.”
In modern society, it is not unusual for elderly and widowed individuals to be abandoned in care facilities, disregarded by their relatives. However, Paul unequivocally emphasizes the core Christian responsibility to respect our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3) and support our elderly family members: “But if anyone does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, they have denied the faith. Such individuals are worse than unbelievers” «But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. », (1 Timothy 5:8, NLT).
