"My Brothers Keeper"

Entrustedweek11 “My Brothers Keeper”
1 Timothy 5:1-16

A believers responsibility to the family of God should mirror our responsibility to our biological family.

Treat the family of God like your biological family.
This is not the best illustration for us in America because generally speaking family loyalty is not the highest degree, we are a very independent people

Biblically speaking we see a high regard placed on our parents, enough so that obedience to them made #5 of the top 10, with a promise

We see from early on Genesis 4 there is a breakdown in the first sibling relationship Cain and Able (tell account)
“Am I my brothers keeper” the answer is YES

Vrs 1-2 In our dealings with those inside the church. Treat them “like family”

Vrs 3-16 Paul was dealing with specific issues in regards to widows in the churches that Timothy was dealing with, but we can glean principles from these directives in how we relate to the family of God.

You will find as you are in the church there are people that it is a pleasure to help because they work hard, serve well, love others and don’t ask for handouts. When they are in need it is a true blessing to help them. There are others who only show up when they are looking for the handout.

The difference between inside the church and outside the church 1 Cor 5 we judge inside.
If we tax resources on people who do not need we have none for those who do. So what we are going to do is look at the treatment of these widows and use it as a springboard for how we should behave “In the Family”

Vrs 3-5 the Godly widow - * Spiritually disciplined (within the fellowship of believers, you should be an example to the Christians around you) HOW shows Godliness to own household – hope in God – prayer warrior

Vrs 6 -the worldly widow – *Avoid Selfishness -selfish is like walking dead…we should not live only for ourselves

Vrs 7 Command to keep above reproach * Have Accountability

Vrs 8-10 An example of a Godly widow *Care for one another. John 19:26-27
Even unbelievers do that
-Christians should take care of their biological family “worse then” the concept here is that even non-believing know it is right to care for the family. If you as believer don’t care for your own what kind of testimony are sharing with those around you.
It is a testimony to them and to those around you.
GOSPEL

Vrs 11-13 The ungodly widows – *Flee sinful passions- In the heat of passion people say and do things that they regret. Harsh words etc

Vrs 14-15 *Learn from roles in biological family- The role that marriage and child bearing plays is keeping focus on the Lord – Being a part of a family helps you focus your attention on the Lord
(sanctification process)

Vrs 16 Biological family has the first responsibility – *The biological family comes before the church.
They have the first responsibility and they are the first responsibility

-The Godly will be taken care of. I spoke with a Godly individual who is out of work and his reply was “through all this I see that God is good”
-The sentiment in this passage is “take care of the Godly” God’s family is much larger then our biological family. So if you have a pressing need in your biological family be assured that another member of God’s family can take care of the member that is suffering.

Challenge from now until Christmas

1. Is there a person in your biological family that you need to work out a difficulty with?
2. Is there a person in God’s family that you need to work out a difficulty with?