1 Timothy 5

Care for the Church Family

1 Do not come at an older man harshly. Treat him like a pops. Younger men, Treat them like your brothers.

2 Older women, Treat them like moms. Younger women, Like sisters, with mad respect and purity.

3 Show love and care to the widows who really need help.

4 But if a widow has got kids or grandkids, they need to step up first and take care of her. That is how you repay your fam and show love to God.

5 The real widows, who are all alone, put their hope in God and stay praying and asking for help day and night.

6 But a widow who is out here wilding and only living for pleasure, She is dead even while she is alive.

7 Make sure the fam knows this so they can stay on point and not get called out.

8 If someone does not take care of their own people, especially their own fam, they are worse than someone who does not even believe in God.

9 When it comes to putting widows on the church support list, make sure they are at least 60, have been faithful to their husband,

10 And got a solid rep for doing good, raising kids, showing hospitality, helping folks in need, and doing good works.

11 Do not put young widows on the list, because they might bounce when their desires pull them away from Christ.

12 Then they would be breaking their promise to Him.

13 Plus, young widows might end up wasting time, gossiping, and causing drama instead of doing good.

14 So I would rather they get married, have kids, and handle their household so the enemy has no reason to talk trash.

15 Some of them already got caught up in Satan’s schemes.

16 If any believing woman has widows in her fam, she should help them so the church can focus on the ones who really need it.

Instructions for Elders

17 Elders who lead well deserve double respect, especially those who grind hard in preaching and teaching.

18 Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is working” and “The worker deserves their pay.”

19 Do not listen to accusations against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses.

20 If an elder messes up, call them out in front of the fam so everyone gets the message.

21 I charge you, in front of God, Jesus, and the angels, to keep it fair, no favoritism.

22 Do not be too quick to lay hands on someone or endorse them, or you might share in their sins. Keep yourself clean.

23 Oh, and stop drinking just water, take a little wine for your stomach and those frequent sicknesses.

24 Some people’s sins are obvious and get judged right away; others will be exposed later.

25 Same with good deeds, some are easy to see, but even the hidden ones will come to light eventually.