Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Posts Tagged ‘biblical narrative’

The following reflection (based on a sermon preached at the Chapel of Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis today) is based on 1 Timothy 5: 1-16.

In our reading today from First Timothy, we are reminded of the solemn duty to respect our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who are not only a part of our family of faith but those who are a part of our lineal family as well. While general precepts make up the first two verses of our reading, the following fourteen deal with regulations regarding widows. While the application is narrow in the Biblical narrative, its application for today has far reaching implications.

The ancient Church recognized her responsibility to those among her number who were unable to properly care for themselves. From early in her life in Jerusalem the Church practice voluntary giving – to the extent of living a communal lifestyle (see Acts 4:32 – 5:10) for the benefit of all. This voluntary arrangement ensured that every believer, no matter their station in life, had their basic needs met.

In our own era, it is difficult for us to meet our own basic needs, let alone the needs of others. When our checkbooks are low and our wallets thin, we tend to gravitate towards providing for ourselves, even if it means that our charitable contributions to the less-fortunate take second place.

And yet in the midst of persecution and hardship, the earliest believers were known because of their love and compassion for one another. Their voluntary ’socialism’ worked far better than any civil form ever could for one key reason – people entered into it willingly and under the soveregnty of God. They implicitly trusted him for their well-being, and did not stop to count the cost when ensuring that their brothers and sisters had their basic needs met.

At the same time, the Church did not suffer deception gladly, as Paul’s strong words of advice to Timothy display. The first and foremost responsibility in Timothy’s community was for the family of a widow to assist in meeting her needs. Of course, that requires that families remain intact and strong in their love for one another. In our era, far too many families find themselves divided, without strong leadership, without godly submission, and without provision for the needs of everyone in the family unit.

Christians must stop looking to the civil government to meet their needs. Social Security, Medicare, and other federal programs have a place, but in the end it is the Christian charity rooted in the home and in the Church that must rise to the challenge of meeting the needs of those who have nobody else to care for them.

May God give us the courage to reach out to help others sacrifically, not counting the cost, to ensure that our families and the less fortunate among our brotherhood are cared for. In doing so, we will continually strengthen them with the witness of a grace-empowerd faith, and through our works will reinforce the Gospel message to one and all. May our non-believing friends be enabled to say, “See how they love one another,” and recognize the transforming power of the Gospel in our lives.

For further reflection: Isaiah 55: 1-3