Issue 24 - Day 5

1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:11-13
11)  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12)  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13)  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

First, some context. The early church took over the role that families provided, being a wider family. Unfortunately, this led to many families offloading their elderly folk on the church. In the culture of the times if your husband died, unless you had sufficient savings, you had to be looked after by your family, or you would be out on the street. Consequently the church began to look after those with no family, but some families took advantage in the same way as some take from the welfare system when there is no need. Regarding younger women in this situation Paul basically said, don’t worry, they will marry again soon and their new husband will take care of them.

The result of being given free welfare was disastrous. They got lazy, started circulating as gossips, and forgot their faith. Paul was not saying these women were inherently tarts. No, they first took advantage of the church, and as a result had forgotten that the church is here to worship God not as a welfare system. So they also forgot God.
We often let things slip in small things first. Usually daily readings are the first to slip. “I’ll do it tomorrow!” However, let slip in one area, and before you know it you will be walking away from God. Turn back, he is waiting. More importantly, be on guard against the little things. Stay strong in the Word.