I Timothy 5:1-25
5:1-2 We are meant to interact respectfully with the people around us. Through disagreement and difficulty we are supposed to carry ourselves with grace and respect. With the same respect we give a parent or sibling we must give an acquaintance and even stranger. We must respect every human being as if they were our family member... because they are our spiritual kin.
5:3-4 We have the responsibility but also blessed opportunity of caring for the people around us. Ensuring the health and well-being of our own family is our closest duty. Our parents and grandparents care for us and when we are grown and strong (because of their efforts) we are meant to repay that generosity.
5:5 Paul is giving Timothy advice on how to maintain a church. We an infer from this chapter that the care of widows was of particular importance. In the context of when this was written, husband-less women had almost no place in society and therefore it become the responsibility of others to care for them. Yet as is true for all of God's children, through faith and compassion His blessings enter and guide our lives.
5:6 Again, as is true for all of God's children, those who lives lives of greed and vanity suffer (not out of punishment but because they are not spiritually content and led away from distraction and even corruption).
5:7 Paul's advice is for Timothy to encourage his church members to care for others with empathy and also to seek and retain God's counsel in all that they do, hope and pray.
5:8 The core of this philosophy is compassion. Therefore living selfishly and neglecting the health and well-being of others is a direct affront against God.
5:9-10 Paul speaks specifically of the church's responsibility for elder widows: take in the kind and the faithful (to God especially) not to punish the unfaithful but because God will only care for the children who allow Him to through their faith.
5:11-15 Paul's advice here is for younger, windowed women to remarry. Out of experience he has seen that women who give up on their lives too soon (after tragedy) often lose sight of their faith and life goals. Paul's advice is to live and experience and be productive.
5:16 Care for the people you are able to care for in order for there to be space, time and material to care for those who truly have no where else to go. This verse is simply practical advice on how to care for the most amount of people, the most sufficiently.
5:17-18 Have gratitude for the good and faithful work of others, reciprocate their generosity; they have earned it.
5:19-20 Paul wanted Timothy to be able to distinguish truth from gossip. He wanted Timothy to build a church of trustworthy people so that he would be able to have confidence in their work. At the same time, he advised Timothy to take seriously valid accusations against teachers. To always remember to let your own and other's behavior be an example to those around.
5:21 Love and give and respect without partiality; treat all people fairly and equally as has been the example of our God.
5:22 Think carefully before you act. Do not follow others' behavior if it is not aligned with your values.
5:23 Wine in this context was not the wine we know now. It was more like a healthful fruit drink (and was not meant to be consumed in copious amounts).
5:24-25 We cannot hide our true character from God. Our acts, thoughts and intentions are known by Him. Both our good acts and bad acts precede us. He knows precisely who we are before we reach Him in Spirit.
