1 Timothy 5:3–16 - The Providential Provider

Earlier we read Larger Catechism 193 about the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer. If we back up one, 192 addresses the third petition: “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” That statement is an acknowledgement that we are predisposed to feeling discontent with how God sovereignly preserves and guides our lives, and to complain about it.

It’s natural to reject some aspect of God’s plan and purpose in a way that reveals our distrust of His wisdom, goodness, and fatherly care. But we have to come to terms with God’s control over what we experience. We can’t go around our sufferings to get to God; we have to go through them.

But getting to God also requires going through the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s just one reason why our Savior and Mediator had to actually be fully God. Christ is God. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. In His being, He is wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

We who are born again exist in a real, spiritual union with Him – a relationship in which we can be sure that God will remain faithful to us and give us “our daily bread.” God providentially provides for His people. This means that He orders all things in such a way that we receive what we need.

This occurs through the mediatorial reign of Christ as King. As King, Christ governs all creatures and all their actions for the good of His church. The One who died for us now reigns over us, and He provides for us through means God has appointed – what LC 193 calls “lawful means” – ways or channels that align with His good and holy law.

This part of 1 Timothy 5 describes two channels for the provision of a specific group – but in principle, this is a message about how God provides for everyone in the church. Each of us relies on God's providence for all of our needs. Every provision you have comes through ways God has designed.

Two ways described in these verses are the family and the church.

Now, these verses come on the heels of Paul’s statement that the church is a family. We're a family in Christ, and family takes care of each other.  In some ways what Paul describes here is foreign to us.

Picture a husband and wife who have an income dependent largely on the husband. The husband dies, and the wife is in danger of becoming destitute. But there is no Social Security or unemployment wages, there is no life insurance, no retirement funds. And it’s not as easy as just going out and getting a job. How would a widow survive? That was a real issue for the church in Ephesus.

All widows should be cared for. The question was “By whom?” Notice verse 3 says “truly widows.” Not just that their husbands died, but also that they had no one to take care of them. See verse [4] “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.”

For these women who were “truly” widows – left all alone – the church would commit permanent financial support. Not just a one-off type gift, but ongoing aid, because they had no one else. However, first Paul says that relatives have a responsibility to each other.

Parents cared for their children when the children couldn’t care for themselves. Now the children should care for parents who can’t care for themselves. It’s a type of repayment. The children have a type of debt to their parents.

So what is a woman to do who has no children and grandchildren – “She who is truly a widow, left all alone?” This woman has only God to depend on now. Verse 5, she “has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.” But some widows were apparently not turning to God in this way.

Some were turning to worldly things. Perhaps to sinful ways of getting money. That’s the meaning of vs. 6, “but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.” “Dead” in the sense of empty and vain living. The church shouldn’t feel obligated to financially support such a woman. The true widow Paul describes here is one who resists that and follows Christ.

So Paul says to Timothy, the pastor, verse [7] Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.” “They” meaning the families of widows and also to the widows themselves. Require this so both parties can remain blameless. Why? Verse [8], 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.”

This is strong language, but it emphasizes something about God’s providence. The family is a lawful means through which He providentially provides for His people. The family is an institution created by God, sustained by Him, and used by Him. Christ the King has ordained the family as one of the instruments of His kingdom.

The fifth commandment (Honor your father and mother) isn’t simply a moral duty. It’s one of the ways King Jesus exercises His loving rule over His people. When parents provide for children or children care for parents, Christ is providentially caring for His people through the means He has appointed.

Imagine a wise king who commits to provide for the widows in an ancient kingdom. He wouldn’t personally knock on every door with a sack of grain. Instead, he would appoint stewards and officers to administer His care. If one of those stewards refused to carry out the king's command, the problem wouldn’t be that the king stopped caring. The steward failed.

Christ the King often cares for parents through children, children through parents, and family members through one another. When families fulfill these duties, they become instruments of His care.

But another instrument of the King is the focus in these next verses. The church would commit permanent financial support to a widow who was truly alone. These women would be enrolled. Their names were set down in a register.

Now, think about it. This would be a major commitment on the church’s part. Good stewardship was necessary. The church shouldn’t begin doing this and then just take it away. And of course the church had limited funding. So Paul gives some guidelines, verse [9] “Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age.”

Sixty was the age at which a woman was considered less likely to get remarried. But even among women at that stage, some additional requirements were given. Notice the rest of the verse: “having been the wife of one husband, [10] 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.”

Why was this important? Well, in part, to be sure the church is supporting a true believer. But also, some scholars think the widows made a commitment as well. It’s possible that they committed to serve the church in various ways. But mainly this money was to be given to older women who were above reproach.

What about younger women? See verse [11] “But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry [12] and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.” A young woman could hopefully get married again. That’s preferable. It’s good. Notice verse [14] So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.”

Where would the slander come in? See that last part of verse 11, verse 12, and 15,
“For some have already strayed after Satan.” These verses seem to refer to some young women who entered into this agreement but then married non-believers and left the faith, bringing disgrace on the church.

The thinking here, overall, is that the church must be selective with this kind of support. Blindly giving hand-outs is not best for anyone. Ideally, people should put their hands and minds to some kind of work. These older women who are now widows on church support had done that in their lives: being wives, raising children, and serving others.

At a young age, without constructive work, the young women might veer into other things, verse [13] “…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.” And the church can’t be providing financial support for that. Therefore, the younger women should look to marry again – to Christian men – rather than taking part in this church program.

Finally notice Paul’s summary in verse [16] “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. This emphasizes a second point about the providence of God: The church is also a lawful means through which He providentially provides for His people.

The church is the household of God. It belongs to Him. Christ purchased her with His own blood, gathers and governs her by His Word and Spirit, and cares for her through her officers and members. The church makes the invisible kingdom of God visible.

So when the church cares for a true widow, Christ Himself is exercising His kingly office. The enrollment of widows was an expression of Christ's reign. The King was providing for members of His kingdom through means He had appointed.

Again, picture the wise ancient king caring for his subjects. Not every person would have family to help them. Some would be truly alone. So the king could establish a treasury and appoint trusted officers to administer it. When a widow with no family is in need, the officers carry out the king's will. So all of the provisions – food, shelter, or whatever – come from the king, even though they pass through the hands of his officers. This mirrors how Christ cares for His people in need through His church.

So you see, whether through the family or the church, God is the Providential Provider behind the visible means of our provision. As we go now to His table, we hold and taste and ingest signs of His provision for us.

Christ went to human death, and came back to life immortal. And now, as our risen and reigning King, He continues to provide life for all who trust in Him. Will you trust Christ today?

These widows in view here were forced to ask, “Who will take care of me?” The answer, ultimately, was King Jesus – whether through family or the church. And the answer is ultimately the same for every one of us.

Do you want proof? Meditate on not only what you have, but how you came to have it. God gave you your life, abilities, and opportunities. He determined when and where you would live. He governs the circumstances that contribute to your success. He sustains every breath you take.

But the greatest proof of His care is found not in food, money, or material support, but at the cross. Before Christ provided daily bread, He provided Himself. He is the Bread of Life. Before He met your temporal needs, He secured your eternal salvation.

Will you receive His provision for salvation today?

Will you turn from sin to follow Him and grow in His grace?

Let’s bow in prayer.