1Timothy 5:3 - Precious Gems Indeed

“Widows be honoring, the [ones] really widows.”

-Speaking of respecting the elderly... Honor widows, Paul says.  This word group in the Greek refers to something which is precious, costly, valuable (1Corinthians 3.13; Colossians 2.23; James 5.7; 1Peter 1.19, 2.7; 2Peter 1.4; Revelation 18.21, 21.11).  They are like precious gems.  Value them, in other words, treat them as precious, prioritze them in the economy of your life, your assembly.  Look out for them and help them, in other words.  The early church struggled with this at points (Acts 6.1).  Not in their desire, but in the practical implementation thereof.  In our culture we perhaps have a different struggle, widow-care in varying degrees getting buried under increasing layers of disrespect for elders and the breakdown of the family.  But particularly in the culture of Paul’s day, the predominance of patriarchal cultures where women tended to be devalued, treated as objects, possessions, so much chattel even (we don’t see this in God’s economy however).  They usually were not educated and did not “work”, not outside of the home at least, such that an older woman who was bereft of family - no husband, no sons (or daughters who could marry) - could quickly become destitute (in addition to being heartbroken).  These were among the most vulnerable in society, right up there with orphans.  With no income and no legal status when it came to owning property, widows were essentially consigned to a life of poverty.  Powerless.  Defenseless.  Dependent on the kindness of strangers.  They needed special consideration and care as well as protection (Exodus 22.22), and as such received priority status from the Lord Himself.  They still do - or did, in Paul’s day at least.

-Scripture is full of enjoinders regarding this (Deuteronomy 10.18, Psalm 68.5, Isaiah 1.17, Jeremiah 22.3, Zechariah 7.10, Malachi 3.5).  Widows were and are near and dear to the heart of the Father - and so should they be for God’s people.  Sadly, in Paul’s day, we read that the religious leaders of Israel (those Pharisees) were actually devouring widows’ houses (Luke 20.47).  They took their homes and took advantage, zeroed in on someone who was weaker and vulnerable and took them to the cleaners.  Spiritual bullies.  Not surprising tho, really.  Bullies are everywhere.  As long as there are those who are vulnerable, there will be those who will take advantage of them.  God’s people to the rescue!  Christ-followers should surely be at the forefront of fighting for those who can’t defend themselves and figuring out just how to help.  And that is really the salient point here - protecting those who are vulnerable and helping to provide for their needs.  The trick is doing so in a way which really helps them, and which doesn’t create or exacerbate a help system which could be abused.  The issue for Timothy (and others) is that apparently some widows weren’t widowy enough - they weren’t "widows indeed” (NASB language).  Widows indeed are widows in real need.  And some of these perhaps didn’t really need to be accessing the system.  It’s still a problem today.  Next verse...