Answer to: Does 1 Tim. 5:16 teach that a Church cannot help a widow?
1TIM 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
I have seen men abuse this scripture to teach that a church cannot give a dime out of the church to help a widow in need.
I have seen men give money to total strangers and bums. They will spend money on all kinds of wasteful things but not help a widow. They will give money to a young single mom even though she has family, but not give a dime to another because she is a widow. Talk about not judging righteous judgment. Read the Bible very long and you will find that God cares for the widow. It is NOT ok to help a bum but not an elderly lady simply because she is a widow.
You need to understand the culture of that day. A widow had no social security check. She had no way to take care of herself. A younger widow could marry again. She could work some and even glean during harvest. But an older widow was in dire straits unless someone took her in. Someone needed to provide her with a place to live and daily provision. Day in and day out. An older widow in those days needed someone to take her on as a ward. She needed all of her expenses met.
Verse 16 says, "and let not the church be charged;" There is a big difference between giving a gift and being charged. Being charged carries the idea of being responsible.
This verse is not talking about helping a widow with a one time gift out of the benevolence fund. What is being talked about here is totally supporting her. What is being taught here is that the church is not to totally support her if she has any family or if she is young. The age of 60 is specified in verse 9.
It is ok to help a widow.
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