The conduct of the pastor in the church regarding different age groups: (Chap.5)
Paul exhorts Timothy about the proper conduct and treatment towards the church members of different age groups.
The elderly persons: (5:1-2):
Timothy was an young man. He must treat the elderly persons with proper respect. Young pastors might be tempted to ignore the older members while taking decisions. The elderly referred here are not the office bearers or the elders of the church. Timothy is told not to rebuke harshly the elderly men.
The Bible clearly says that we must due respect to the elderly people. “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord “(Lev.19:32). “Gray hair is a crown of splendor, it is attained by righteous life” (Pro.16:31). He must accord the elderly men as father and elderly women as mother and younger men as brothers and younger women as sisters with absolute purity. The church is a family.
Paul uses the word do not rebuke harshly“ (5:1). Timothy should never rebuke elderly people harshly. But in (5:20) he was told to rebuke them if they are going against the word of God. It may necessary to rebuke them publicly of their accusations if proved by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly but not harshly.
As regards to older women, every young pastor must treat them with respect and honour and treat them as mothers.
As regards to younger women, they should be treated as sisters. His conduct must be above reproach and pure. He should not flirt or speak to them with provocative words.
Instructions about widows: (5:3-16):
The church and the Israel nation had a great concern for the widows. In O.T. God gave special legislation to protect widows. “God defends the cause of the fatherless and the widows, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing” (Deu.10:18). God’s special care for widows is a continuous theme in both O.T and N.T. (Isa.1:17; Mal.3:5; Acts 9:39). But the church must be judicious and act in discretion not to waste its resources on people who are really not in need. The church must show honour and respect to widows.
The widows who have children and grandchildren: (5:3-4):The widows who have children and grandchildren must show their responsibility to help the widows. In God’s economy, the responsibility of caring the widows in their family lies with the adult children and grandchildren. It is the part of the debt owed by them. Such reciprocity is pleasing to God. It is “welfare” as God intended it.
“The Christian who falls below the best heathen standard of family affection is the more blameworthy, since he has, what the heathen has not, the supreme example of love in Jesus Christ. We may add that Jesus Himself gave an example of providing for one’s own, when He provided a home for His mother with the beloved disciple.” (White)
The widows who are in real need: (5:5): Timothy was told to give proper respect and recognition to widows who are in need. They are the widows who have lost their husband and has no one to look after them and their needs, put their hope in God and therefore continues in petition and prayer night and day. They should be legitimately be helped by the church. They should serve the church in some way. The widows should be given the job of praying for the church. Ex: The widow prophetess Anna (Lk.2:37).
The widows who live in pleasure: (5:6): Many women who became widows gave themselves to godly service. Some widows used their widowhood to seek after sensual pleasure which includes even adultery. Paul gives clear instructions to Timothy that any widow who lives in wanton pleasure, in stark contrast to the godly life should not be placed in widows list who receives the help from the church. The life lived by such a women has dead life. It is a living death, whether lived by a young widow or old widow.