We wrote yesterday on Paul’s emphasis on work in 1 Timothy 4.10 – 16. It’s not hard to see the theme continuing even though he’s on an entirely different subject in 1 Timothy 5: What kind of widows should the church support? In addition to an age requirement, what should Timothy be looking for? It’s surprising when you think about it:

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. (1 Timothy 5.9 – 10, ESV)

In short, she has a reputation for good works:

• She has brought up children
• She has shown hospitality
• She has washed the feet of the saints (a serving mentality)
• She has cared for the afflicted
• (To summarize), she has devoted herself to “every good work.”

Work makes the world, well, work! Paid and unpaid. Believers are to be leading the way. As always, do it, teach it.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2.3 – 5, ESV)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2.10, ESV)