Paul addresses first how we see each other in the church. He cautions us not to rebuke an older man, keeping the order of respect. He also admonishes Timothy and us to respect older women as mothers and younger women as sisters. When we love Christ purely, we value our church members highly as our own family members who have received the blood of Christ. How do you view your church members?

Paul next addresses the situation of widows. In Ephesus, some widows who didn't really need help were draining the resources for widows in real need. So, Paul gives restrictions to help Timothy in this matter. Widows should only get help if they are over 60 and have no other resources. Family members should first take care of widows. Young widows should remarry and have a family.

Paul says that only the widow who puts their hope in God should be cared for by the church. A widow is lonely, helpless, and impoverished. She can seek many solutions to her situation, or, by faith, put her hope in God. We, too, like a widow have nothing in this world except Jesus to truly hope. Let's see our spiritual state before God and put our hope in Christ, our true bridegroom. Let's rely on him day and night in prayer, like a widow.


Application: Father, thank you for giving us real hope in Christ. Help us to rely on him in prayer for help
One Word: Put your hope in God