A Christian Principle
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”1Timothy 5:1-8.
Here Paul tells Timothy and through him Christians how we are to treat those around us especially family.
We are to treat older men with respect “as if he were your father”
“Treat younger men as brothers,”
“Older women as mothers,”
“younger women as Sisters”
all “with absolute purity”
We are to look after widows who are truly in need.
Then Paul notes,
“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This is not a concept exclusive to Christians. The Jewish faith believes in this, as do others.
When I was young someone gave me a button that read, “Don’t let your parents down. They brought you up.”
This is true. We as Christians have an obligation to our families to help them if they are in need as long as we are able.
We as Christians are also called as part of our faith to help those who are truly in need. James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
The Christian faith is more than a faith that simply believes in God. It is very much a faith of love in action. Of showing God’s love in all we do. Of witnessing for God in word and deed to all those around us. Our families, our neighbours and all we come in contact with.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
Please think about it.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”1Timothy 5:1-8.
Here Paul tells Timothy and through him Christians how we are to treat those around us especially family.
We are to treat older men with respect “as if he were your father”
“Treat younger men as brothers,”
“Older women as mothers,”
“younger women as Sisters”
all “with absolute purity”
We are to look after widows who are truly in need.
Then Paul notes,
“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This is not a concept exclusive to Christians. The Jewish faith believes in this, as do others.
When I was young someone gave me a button that read, “Don’t let your parents down. They brought you up.”
This is true. We as Christians have an obligation to our families to help them if they are in need as long as we are able.
We as Christians are also called as part of our faith to help those who are truly in need. James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
The Christian faith is more than a faith that simply believes in God. It is very much a faith of love in action. Of showing God’s love in all we do. Of witnessing for God in word and deed to all those around us. Our families, our neighbours and all we come in contact with.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do
may be the only sermon
some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.
