Household Code – 1 Timothy 5:1-16

It is typical of Paul to include what we have come to call “household codes,” directions for how households, which included slaves, should behave.  Peter does the same in his letter, 1 Peter.  They saw these codes as critical to giving testimony to the world of the rightness of Christianity, hence as evangelistic.

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.  (1 Timothy 5:1-16 ESV)

The church is the household of God, a family that cares for each other.  But there are guidelines about how we care for each other.

Older men can be corrected in a caring family but must be done so with great respect.  In our every dealing with one another we should view each other as family members and have the purist of relationships.  Even in dating relationships we should view one another as brothers and sisters.

Widows must be cared for if their natural families cannot, and the widows must be of good character.  Failure of family members to take care of their own when they are able is tantamount to renouncing their faith.

The widows who are enrolled for support must be 60 or older and have been faithful spouses, demonstrating all the characteristics of faithful believers.  The refusal to support younger widows is either because they have pledged to remain unmarried in order to be supported by the church and will likely be drawn into a romantic relationship and abandon their pledge, or there is concern they will be drawn to marry an unbeliever and abandon the faith.

The church is a family but family must not become a burden to one another when there are legitimate means to care for those in need.  This prevents abuses and encouragement to laziness rather than providing for oneself.

We may see here some justification for saving and purchasing various kinds of insurance.