Widows...and helping others - I Timothy 5:3-6:2

In Timothy today,  we read about caring for widows.  But if you read carefully,  we, the church, are to care for widows who have no one to care for them. Young widows are to be encouraged to marry again and raise a family so they do not go astray of the faith.  Older widows are to be cared for by their families or whomever is there for them. Only those with no family or friends are to rely on the church to care for them. We all are responsible for those who need to be cared for. 

Our country, however, has gone astray of this command.  Our government takes care of our widows and then some.  We all pay for this through our taxes and social security. So, technically we are caring for the widows and the poor. Right?

Hmmmm,  if you reread the passage in Timothy,  the families and Church are the ones who are to care for the widows and the poor. When did we excuse ourselves from this and let the government, a non-Biblical institution, take this over?

As with any sin, it came about slowly, subtly, and without much fanfare. I am sure everyone thought Social Security was the right answer when it was instituted. I am sure the purpose of welfare was good when it was instituted.

These are all government programs run by people without using Biblical principles!  Need we wonder why they have grown in to mammoth entitlement programs instead? When did the Church and Christians give our responsibilities to the government? Look what has happened!

As I said, subtly! If you are wondering now why subtlety is bad in this situation, well, subtly, slowly making innocent looking changes,  is the Devil's best weapon. 

Don't be subtly lead to do what you shouldn't do, or not do what you should.  God has commanded us to care for others. If we, and our fore fathers had done that, welfare and social security would not be needed.

Father, I pray that you not let me overlook the subtle reminders you give me daily to do your will. That I see everything through your eyes and act accordingly. Please don't let me slowly slip into sin by the subtly of the Devil's ways.