1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Good morning, friends and faithful listeners, and welcome 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: to the Bible explained on this lovely Thursday morning. It 3 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:11,400 Speaker 1: is a beautiful day to day. I hope you have 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: your coffee in front of you because we're gonna be 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,279 Speaker 1: talking about a kind of controversial topic today. So I 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: think you're gonna need your coffee to kind of like 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: relax you a little bit. Or for those of you 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: who are crazy tea drinkers, I guess your cup of 9 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: tea will relax you. But I don't know how that 10 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: could happen because coffee is so much superior to tea. 11 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: So that's the first controversial thing I'll say to start 12 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: this podcast. But we're gonna be talking today about widows, 13 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: how children should be taking care of their parents and 14 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: actually owe it to their parents, and lastly, who is 15 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: actually eligible for church finances or handouts. We'll talk about 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: all of that today, And of course, before we begin 17 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: this episode, here is a quick word from our sponsors. 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: I am certainly looking forward to today's podcast episode. So let's 19 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: go ahead and read first Timothy five one through sixteen. 20 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: I'll be reading, as always from the web, but of course, 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: grab your cup of coffee. And the version of the 22 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: Bible that you prefer to read out of. And let's 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: jump into first Timothy five one through sixteen. Don't rebuke 24 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: an older man, but exhort him as a father, the 25 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: younger men as brothers, the elder women as mothers, the 26 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: younger as sisters. In all purity, honor widows who are 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: widows indeed, But if any widow has children or grandchildren, 28 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: let them learn first to show piety toward their own family, 29 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: and to repay their parents, For this is acceptable in 30 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 1: the sight of God. Now, she who is a widow 31 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: indeed and desolate, has her hopes set on God, and 32 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: continues in petitions and prayers night and day. But she 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: Also command these things that they may be without reproach. 35 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: But if anyone doesn't provide for his own and especially 36 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: his own household, he has denied the faith and is 37 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: worse than an unbeliever. No. No one be enrolled as 38 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife 39 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: of one man, being approved by good works. If she 40 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: has brought up the children, if she has been hospitable 41 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: to strangers, if she has washed the saint's feet, if 42 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently 43 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: followed every good work. But refuse younger widows, for when 44 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. Besides, 46 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: they also learned to be idle, going about from house 47 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: to house, not only idle, but also gossips and busy bodies, 48 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: saying things which they ought not. I desire therefore, that 49 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and 50 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 1: give no occasion to the adversary for insulting, For already 51 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 1: some have turned away after Satan. If any man or 52 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and 53 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: don't let the assembly be burdened that I might relieve 54 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: those who are widows. Indeed, so in this portion of 55 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: First Timothy, Paul is now describing how Timothy should treat 56 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: so certain members of the church. So he starts out 57 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: by saying, don't rebuke an older man, but exhort him 58 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: as a father. So this does not mean that Timothy 59 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: can never correct an older man, because actually, if you 60 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 1: jump down to verse twenty of this same chapter, it 61 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: says those who sin reprove in the sight of all 62 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: that the rest may be in fear. So obviously, if 63 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: an older man is sinning, Timothy needs to call that 64 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 1: out as the pastor of the church, and also in 65 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: some cases call it out publicly. So that's not what 66 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: Paul is getting at here. But he's saying that Timothy 67 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: needs to remember his position as a younger man and 68 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: treat the older man with respect, not rebuking them harshly, 69 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: but guiding them and giving them honor as you would 70 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: a father. But to the younger men, he says, treat 71 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,119 Speaker 1: them as brothers. So notice that Paul does not say 72 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: that Timothy can't rebuke the younger men, but he says, 73 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: treat them as you would your own brother. So, in 74 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: other words, treat them with kindness, treat them as you 75 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: would your own family member. The elder women treat them 76 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: as mothers, the younger as sisters in all purity. So 77 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: when it comes to the women, Timothy needs to be 78 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: very pure towards them. The elder women in the church 79 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: need to be treated with respect. The younger women also 80 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: treated with respect as sisters in all purity. So when 81 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,919 Speaker 1: it comes to the women, Paul specifically tells Timothy, be 82 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: very careful with your interactions with the women. Be pure 83 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: in every single thing that you do, because the women 84 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: are to be treated with respect as daughters of God. 85 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: And then he goes into widows. Specifically, he says, honor 86 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: widows who are widows. Indeed, so the Greek word for 87 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: honor could be talking about paying them what they are 88 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: due or showing them respect and honor. Regardless of what 89 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: Paul meant here, it is very clear throughout all scripture 90 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: they are to be treated with so much respect. In fact, 91 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 1: let's go into some verses about how God thinks about 92 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: widows and also how God's people are to treat widows 93 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: Psalm sixty eight, verse five. Father of the fatherless and 94 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:17,239 Speaker 1: protector of widows is God in his holy habitation James 95 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: one twenty seven. Religion that is pure and undefiled before 96 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: God the Father. Is this to visit orphans and widows 97 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: in their affliction, and to keep one's self unstained from 98 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: the world Psalm one forty six nine. The Lord watches 99 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: over the sojourners. He upholds the widows and the fatherless, 100 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin 101 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: Deuteronomy twenty seven nineteen. Cursed be anyone who perverts the 102 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 1: justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, 103 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: and all the people shall say amen. Exit Is twenty 104 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: two twenty two. You shall not mistreat any widow or 105 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: fatherless child Malachi three five. Then I will draw near 106 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness 107 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, 108 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, 109 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside 110 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord 111 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: of Hosts Mark twelve forty. And this is Jesus's words. 112 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: Those who devour widow's houses and for a pretense make 113 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: long prayers, they will receive the greater condemnation Deuteronomy fourteen, 114 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: twenty eight and twenty nine. At the end of every 115 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 1: three years, you shall bring out all the tithe of 116 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: your produce in the same year and lay it up 117 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: within your towns and the levite, because he has no 118 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: portion or inheritance with you and the sojourner. The fatherless, 119 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: and the widow who are within your towns shall come 120 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God 121 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: may bless you in all the work of your hands 122 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: that you do. And then lastly exit is twenty two 123 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: twenty two through twenty four. You shall not mistreat any 124 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them and 125 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 126 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you 127 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and 128 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,679 Speaker 1: your children fatherless. So yeah, it's pretty clear in scripture 129 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: that God cares a lot about the widows and the 130 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: fatherless specifically, and that's only a handful of verses that 131 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: I read about how we are to be caring for 132 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:26,679 Speaker 1: widows and the fatherless. So we are certainly to give 133 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: widows respect and honor that they're due, but specifically Christian widows, 134 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: which are talked about right here in one Timothy five 135 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: to three. Honor widows who are widows. Indeed, but if 136 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first 137 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: to show piety toward their own family and to repay 138 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 139 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: So yes, all Christian widows are to be given honor 140 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 1: because God's heart breaks four widows. They have been left 141 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: in a really bad position. I mean even nowadays. You know, 142 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: things are very different now Like in the days of Paul, 143 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: a widow was destitute a lot of times. You know, 144 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: younger widows could find jobs and get remarried, but specifically 145 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: the older widows that couldn't find jobs and couldn't work anymore, 146 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: they were absolutely destitute. In Paul's day, there was nothing 147 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: for them. So things are very different nowadays because we 148 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: do have, you know, government programs that take care of 149 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: people in that situation. But I believe that God's heart 150 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: still breaks for widows because women rely so much on 151 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: their husbands, like we really do. You know, I love 152 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: my husband. I'd be absolutely devastated if he died. I 153 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: don't know what I would do. You know, There's so 154 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: many things that my husband just takes care of that 155 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: I don't have to think about. You know, something simple 156 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: is just plowing the driveway with the tractor. I don't 157 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: even know, like I know how to start the tractor. 158 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: I don't know really anything else about it. I can 159 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: maybe like drive it out of the garage. But I 160 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: don't even know that I could get it back into 161 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: the garage because the is such a tight little place. 162 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: I'd probably hit the side of the garage if I 163 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: even tried to get it back in. So I rely 164 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: on my husband for so many things, and that is 165 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: the same case with so many women. We rely on 166 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: our husbands, and we're very dedicated to our husbands as well. 167 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: I believe God's heart to this day still breaks for 168 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: widows and for fatherless children, and so our hearts as 169 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: Christians should break for these women as well. You know 170 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 1: famous widow that I can think of right now is 171 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 1: Charlie Kirk's wife, Erica Kirk, and I'm just shocked by 172 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: the amount of Christians that are treating her with so 173 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: much vitriol. I'm shocked by that because it is so 174 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: clear in Scripture that we are to give honor to 175 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: widows verse four. If any widow has children or grandchildren, 176 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: let them learn first to show piety toward their own 177 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: family and to repay their parents for the This is 178 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: acceptable in the sight of God. Now not gonna lie. 179 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: This episode, I think is going to be very controversial 180 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: on a lot of different points, and I think this 181 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: might be the first point that is specifically controversial, because 182 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: no one likes to hear that they owe their parents. 183 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: Not a single person wants to be like, oh, yeah, 184 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: you know, I owe my parents. Everybody nowadays is so 185 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: focused on how their parents hurt them and how they 186 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: want to be freed from their parents. But Paul actually 187 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: says right here that repaying your parents is acceptable in 188 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: the eyes of God. In fact, Jesus said something similar 189 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: in Matthew chapter fifteen three through nine. Jesus answered them, 190 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: why do you also disobey the commandment of God because 191 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: of your tradition? For God commanded honor your father and 192 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: your mother, And he who speaks evil of father or mother, 193 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: let him be put to death. But you say, whoever 194 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: may tell his father or his mother whatever help you 195 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: might have otherwise gotten from me is a gift devoted 196 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: to God. He shall not honor his father or mother. 197 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: You have made the commandment of God void because of 198 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: your tradition, you hypocrites. Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 199 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: these people draw near to me with their mouth and 200 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: honor me with their lips, but their heart is far 201 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: from me, and they worship me in vain teaching as 202 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: doctrine rules made by men. So I think that's pretty 203 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 1: clear that giving honor to your parents is pleasing in 204 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: the eyes of God. You know, Jesus quotes a couple 205 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: Old Testament laws where God is making it very clear 206 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: that if you mistreat your parents or refuse to provide 207 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: for them in their old age, that's actually sickening in 208 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: the eyes of God. And Jesus himself said that. And 209 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: you know, I can go into so many different topics 210 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: with this because you might be asking, well, what about 211 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: really horrible parents that like try to destroy your life, 212 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: what do we do in that situation. We're supposed to 213 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: honor our parents, regardless of how terrible they are, with 214 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: whatever honor we can give them. But when Paul here 215 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: is talking about these widows in One Timothy five, he's 216 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: specifically talking about Christian widows. So if you are a 217 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: Christian and your mother, who is a widow, is also 218 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: a Christian, this is what Paul specifically is talking about here, 219 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: not non Christian situations, not deeply abusive situations, but the 220 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: average Christian family that goes to the church. Those children 221 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: are to pay back their Christian parents, even if their 222 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: Christian parents are a little bit on the crazy side, 223 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: because most parents are, and I'm sure when I become 224 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: a parent, I'm going to be a crazy parent to 225 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: my kid. Also, still, those Christian children are still supposed 226 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: to provide for their Christian parents, specifically their widowed mother. 227 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: Here's what Paul says in verse Timothy five, verse eight. 228 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: If anyone doesn't provide for his own especially his own household, 229 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 230 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: That is how weighty this issue is. This is a 231 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: big deal to God that the elderly are taken care of, 232 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 1: specifically by the children who are raised by those elderly parents. 233 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: If those children say I believe in God but refuse 234 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: to provide for their own family, Paul says that they 235 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever. 236 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: Because even unbelievers want to take care of the elderly. 237 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: Even unbelievers know that it's important to not let elderly 238 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: people go and die without any finances. So if an 239 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 1: unbeliever can figure out that the elderly need help, then 240 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: surely the Christian person, regardless of what grudges they have 241 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: against their Christian parents, they should also figure out that 242 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: their parents need help and support in their old age. 243 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: So it's definitely countercultural, and it probably was in Paul's 244 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: day as well if you think about it, because, like 245 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: I said, commands are in scripture because they're not easy 246 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: to follow. If they are easy to follow, we wouldn't 247 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: have to be commanded to do it, we would just 248 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: go and do it. So I'm sure that this was 249 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: also an issue in Paul's day as well, which is 250 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: why he's, you know, bringing this forward to Timothy, who 251 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: is now the new pastor at this church in Macedonia. 252 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: So let's talk a little bit more about these widows. 253 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: First and foremost, when a woman becomes a widow, if 254 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: she has Christian children, those children should provide for their mother. 255 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: The church should not be providing for that widow in 256 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: that circumstance, because it kind of goes back to those 257 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: familial relations that God put in place. God wants people 258 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: to care for their own families. That's pretty clear in scripture. 259 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: But she who is a w indeed and desolate has 260 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: her hopes set on God and continues in petitions and 261 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: prayers night and day. So there are some widows out 262 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: there who have nobody. They are fully alone, either because 263 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: they have no children, or their children live too far 264 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: away and can't come and visit their mother all the time. 265 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: Or maybe this woman had children who died or children 266 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 1: who are unbelievers they refuse to take care of their mother. 267 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: Those widows have their hopes set on God and continue 268 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: in petitions and prayers night and day because they have 269 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: nobody else to rely on. And those are the widows 270 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: that the church should be caring for. But there are 271 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: other widows verse six. There are widows who give themselves 272 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: to pleasure. They are dead while they live. So I 273 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: imagine that would be the case of a woman when 274 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: her husband dies just kind of like only living for herself, 275 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: maybe abandoning church, maybe becoming angry at God because she 276 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: feels God took her husband away from her. And these 277 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: women either leave the faith or they kind of rebel 278 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: against the faith, even if they're still going to church. 279 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: They rebel by appeasing themselves with drugs or alcohol, by 280 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: just living a lifestyle that is not honoring to God. 281 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: In that case, those widows should not be supported by 282 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: the church because they're in rebellion against God. Now, I 283 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: imagine if they come back into the faith. Then at 284 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: that time there could be a discussion about those widows 285 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: being supported by the church. But generally, if a widow 286 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: decides that she is no longer going to live as 287 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: part of the Christian faith because of whatever reason, that 288 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: person should not be supported by the Church. Command these 289 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: things verse seven, that they may be without reproach. So 290 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: these are commands. Actually this may be a very shocking 291 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: statement to some of you, but the Church is not 292 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: supposed to support every single person on the planet. In fact, 293 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: even saying that, I feel almost like cringey because people 294 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: have this idea that the Church is supposed to help 295 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: every single person in need. But that's actually not what 296 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: Scripture commands. In fact, almost always, and here's another controversial statement, 297 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: almost always, when you see a command about giving, whether 298 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 1: it's in the Old Testament or the New Testament, it 299 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: is almost always directed at a believer, somebody who follows 300 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: the faith. And that is especially true in the New Testament. 301 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: Every single time Paul talks about giving, he's talking about 302 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 1: giving to other believers, not just any random person on 303 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:49,640 Speaker 1: the street. And so the church doesn't have to give 304 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: their finances that come in to every single person who 305 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: is in need or asks for those finances. You know, 306 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: I can't even tell you how many times people have 307 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: walked into my church and asked for handouts, asked for money, 308 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: asked for you know, a hotel room, and a lot 309 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: of times, you know, my church will give it to 310 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: those people. But biblically, we don't actually have to do that. 311 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: There is nothing in scripture that says we have to 312 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: do that. But we are supposed to always give to 313 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: other Christians in need. That is very very clear in 314 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: scripture that those who are in need, like really truly 315 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: in need, who are faithful to God, they are to 316 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: be provided for. They are to be taken care of 317 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: by the church members. Otherwise it's just an unneeded burden 318 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: on the church. You know, I've seen YouTube videos where 319 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: like critics of the church will do this whole like 320 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: gotcha thing, and they'll like call up all of these 321 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: churches and like give this sob story and be like, oh, 322 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: you know, like I need formula for my baby, or 323 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: I need this, or I need that because I'm in 324 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: you know, a terrible situation, and like these churches won't 325 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: give out handouts to these people calling and you know, 326 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: of course the end result is like, look how terrible 327 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: the church is. You know, they don't give any charity whatsoever. 328 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: But actually statistics show differently because Christians are the most 329 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: charitable people on the planet. You can look those stats up. 330 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,400 Speaker 1: I am not lying to you. Christians give more than 331 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 1: any other person that identifies with any other religion or thing. 332 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: Christians are givers through and through. And these churches that 333 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: won't hand out money to like randoms that call aren't 334 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: doing anything wrong. They're protecting what God has given them. 335 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: They're protecting the finances of the people that give to 336 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: the church, because if the church gave to every single 337 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 1: person that called up to ask for money or to 338 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 1: you know, have some sob story, the church would be 339 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,679 Speaker 1: out of finances in a week and wouldn't actually be 340 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: able to support people who may truly need help or 341 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: people who need to be paid and make a living 342 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: by working at the church. So so that may be 343 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: a very controversial statement to you, but yeah, it's pretty 344 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: clear in scripture that we don't as church members, don't 345 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: actually have to give to people who are unbelievers. We can, 346 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 1: but we don't have to. And you know what, I 347 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: am only halfway through this passage. So I think I'm 348 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: going to do a Part one and Part two about 349 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: this topic because verses nine through fifteen or nine through 350 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: sixteen actually talk about what widows specifically are eligible to 351 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: be supported by the church, because not even all Christians 352 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 1: should be supported by the church either, interestingly enough, So 353 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 1: we will get into that topic on Tuesday. But don't 354 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: go away at because I have a few things to 355 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: announce right after a quick word from our sponsors, so 356 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: faithful listeners, I have the Christmas Special coming up on Wednesday. 357 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: I'm very, very excited to present this year's Christmas Special 358 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: to you guys. As you all know, it releases midnight 359 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: on Christmas Morning, and I'm excited about my topic this year. 360 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to be talking about the Mother Mary and 361 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: specifically the Magnificant, which is the prayer that Mary gives 362 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: to God, and I do think a lot of you 363 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: guys will enjoy it. I will also probably be singing 364 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: a song for you, as I do pretty much every 365 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: single year, so that will be something I guess you 366 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: guys can look forward to as well. Now don't forget 367 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: that tomorrow is for the members. I do a separate 368 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: podcast on Fridays specifically for the faithful members. And right 369 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: now we are going through the Book of the Psalms, 370 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: and the Friday podcast episode, by the way, has not 371 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: changed at all. That is a separate podcast that I 372 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 1: do not associated with Life Audio, so you will hear 373 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: the Psalms ad free. And so if you're interested in 374 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: upgrading from becoming a faithful listener to a faithful member, 375 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: check out the link in the description that says Kofi 376 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: and join me tomorrow for the Bible Explained on Fridays. 377 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: But friends and faithful listeners, have a fantastic and wonderful weekend. 378 00:21:56,720 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: I'll see you guys on Monday for another discussion from 379 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles, and also Tuesday as we wrap up this 380 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 1: talk on the Widows until Monday. Happy weekend, happy listening, 381 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: and God bless. I just want to take a second 382 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership 383 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, if 384 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,479 Speaker 1: you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens 385 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 386 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.