1. Treat everyone with respect (1-2)

Serving the people of God means discerning God in all matters. It is recognizing all brothers and sisters in the gospel, treating them as those for whom Christ died. Then we honor the gospel and live with absolute purity.

2. Caring for widows (3-16)

Paul had special instructions for how God's servants should treat widows. He encouraged the children and grandchildren of widows to serve God by caring for their family, thereby pleasing God. He instructed widows who were truly alone to pray and seek God, and he warned against a pleasure-seeking life. Paul differentiated between older widows who were truly in need and younger widows. Younger widows were free to remarry so that they would be free from temptation and better able to maintain a God-serving life. In all things Paul sought to please God and enable God's people to do the same.


Application: Lord, help me to be wise and discerning in my service to you. Make me a blessing to bring all people to serve you and please God.
One Word: Serve others to please God