³ Take care of^[b] any widow who has no one else to care for her. ⁴ But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

⁵ Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. ⁶ But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. ⁷ Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.

Here Paul is speaking to the church on how to take care of widows and what a “true widow” is. First of all he say that if she has NO ONE ELSE to take care of her the church should…the body of Christ……..the local church. IF she is truly alone in this world! But if she has children or grandchildren they should take care of her, in fact Paul says “that their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them” And then goes on to say it pleases God.

Again this is NOT a command, it’s not a heaven or hell issue when it comes to our salvation, it’s a principle that first helps the elderly, makes sure they are cared for, and it helps society in the world. In today’s world they are pushing for euthanasia as a legal way of “helping our seniors” or as it’s also known as “mercy killing” It takes a burden off the gov’t and off the families while convincing the rest of the world that it’s helping those who can’t take care of themselves. This is LEGAL in many countries now and it’s touched on through Obama Care in the US … trust me it’s coming. GOD HAS THE ANSWERS and the SOLUTIONS!!!

Paul then gives us what a “true widow” is. “A woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. But the Widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives”

These are instructions for the church and families. He is saying it’s the churches responsibility to take care of a true widow as if she is her own. What about a spiritually alive widow who has family that is spiritually dead? Then what? I know people and I know churches when it comes to things like this……this situation could become an entire board meeting that may even get heated. I say what would please God? I have seen families that allow their mother to live as a pauper while they are waiting for her to pass to inherit all she has. Some families are so addicted to drugs, alcohol, and other junk that they can’t even think correctly and can only look out for themselves…….. what then? I say what would please God?

Some churches are poor and have to watch every penny, the budget’s are so tight and they won’t let go or won’t allow the bank account to get low…..I understand that but what would God bless? A church that gives it all away or a church that has a huge bank account? What about the widow who drives you NUTS, is not all there mentally and drains the body and has nobody else to take care of her? What would please God?

I pastored for 16 years and for the most part never saw this is “action” 100% – I think the church has good intentions, but I will say this. I did NOT LEAD the church to this kind of life style, this type of LOVE, this type of ministry. I did not lay my life down and put widows first! I did not lead them and teach them, I was selfish and wanted to make sure I got paid, make sure we had this or that……….I write this with great shame and a very sick feeling in my Spirit. If I ever get the chance to do it over again ministry sure would be different.

If there was a church that was focused on living out the Scriptures without being “legalistic” in any way at all, the pastor of the church would lead them into this church life style, where people would share all they had, give all they could, their number one focus would be “others” the needy, the widows, the sick, the addicted, the unlovable…….money would not be an issue……I truly believe it would please God as the word says and if he is please, and if he blessed it, people would give it all away in their lives!!!!

The he goes on to say “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers”

What does he mean the are worse than unbelievers? Well at least unbeliever say they are unbelievers but a believer who does not follow the heart of Jesus, they are double minded, liars, and only fooling themselves. The man who speaks what he believes and lives by it is much better off than a man who says one thing and does another. Bottom line……take care of your parents, grandparents when they are old and not able. This PLEASES God.

Well there are the first 8 verses…….lol only 17 more to go in this chapter. The next couple weeks will be slow for I have to focus on our testimony to prepare for the 22nd. I’m excited and nervous…..May God get ALL THE GLORY!!!