The Best Way for Younger Widows.1 Timothy 5:14-16.
So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,
As Paul concludes instructions about widows, he advises on the way forward for younger widows, whom he has already discouraged from joining the role of widows in the church.
Remarry (v. 14a).Paul recommends marriage for the younger widows. In a sense, he is saying that they should try to resume normal married life – bear children and manage their households. As we have seen before, households were more than a nuclear family. They included workers and slaves. The remarried widow would basically run the business for her husband.
Refuse (vv. 14b-15). By keeping busy and productive, the remarried widow would deny the adversary the opportunity to mislead and misuse her. Unfortunately, this had already happened to some. This could have been through what was said earlier – marrying unbelievers and disrupting the fellowship with gossip, or it could have been in some other way not mentioned here.
Rescue (v. 16). Having established that women have means since they manage the family business, Paul encourages them to come to the rescue of their relatives who are widows. This is not to the exclusion of men, just an emphasis on who should be at the frontline when it comes to charity. If most widows are cared for by their relatives, it will free church resources so that they can be directed to “those who are truly widows,” widows who have no one who can assist them. Look around you. Have you neglected a widow and other needy people who are related to you?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.