Guidelines for Church Charity Programs

I Timothy 5:3-16

Charity is definitely an out reach of the church. It is not however, the purpose of the church. An improperly administered charity program can destroy the church’s financial standing, or it’s credibility. It is not God’s intention that we should protect people from God’s chastening or judgment. Neither does he want us to enable others to escape taking their legitimate responsibilities. The guidelines are to help make proper decisions.

In the early church, care for widows was a major burden on the church. Throughout history older women have tended to outnumber men. While many women died during the childbearing years, a woman who made it into old age was likely to outline men her age. One reason being that both wars and the work men did was both dangerous and more harmful to the body, and the risks did not stop at middle age like it did with women. As a result, many older women were left unable to support themselves.

The number of women who had been left destitute was the reason for the selection of the deacons in Acts 6. The Law gave specific guidelines regarding treatment of widows, Including the direction that part of the tithe was to be used to provide for them in Deuteronomy 26:12-13. Provision was also made to enable them to have food by the laws governing harvest in Deuteronomy 24:19-21. The goal of the system was to provide what was needed without creating dependency or destroying self respect. The guidelines here have a similar goal.

“Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.” (I Timothy 5:3-4)

The primary responsibility for a widow is the families. This is what God expects, and the church needs to encourage an attitude of taking the responsibility. There are widows who have no family, however, and the church needs to accept responsibility for them. They are totally dependent upon God for their support.

“Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.” (I Timothy 5:5-7)

There are widows who look at it as an opportunity to do things they wanted to do or to have a good time. It is not acceptable, and the church needs to warn them of the consequences. It is not an opportunity to indulge one’s lusts, nor should one be looking for somebody to take care of them. I Corinthians 7 deals with the subject in detail, and verses 39-40 suggest that while the widow is free to remarry, she may be happier single. Many second marriages turn out poorly, especially if entered into to gain support.

The family has a responsibility to provide, and the church has the responsibility to teach them to take the responsibility. To refuse to take it is to refuse to trust God’s promise and to disobey him. Love is the main indicator of our Christianity. Refusal to help our own family indicates a lack of love. I Timothy 5:8 states, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” It is worse than not believing in God at all. It is acting in exactly the opposite manner as what a Christian should be doing.

The church is not even to take responsibility for every widow who has no support. If she is still young enough to do for herself, it is not the churches place to support her. Paul recommends at least sixty years of age. They ought not support her if her lifestyle has not been consistent with Christian standards. She must have been a faithful wife, not remarried. She must have raised her own children, not left it up to relatives or babysitters, or given them up for adoption. She has to have demonstrated a concern for others, and been willing to do even demeaning jobs with little recompense. She must have demonstrated an unselfish nature.

“Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.” (I Timothy 5:9-10)

Younger women are not to be supported because they have a tendency to begin to want companionship and Christ will no longer be the only thing they are concerned about. It may lead to sin and judgment by God. In addition, having no responsibilities encourages idleness, and gives freedom to gossip and stir up trouble.

“But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” (I Timothy 5:11-13)

In I Corinthians 7, Paul prescribes marriage as a deterrent to sexual temptation and sin. Those who are not greatly troubled by temptation don’t require marriage to avoid sin, but most will be better off to marry. Doing so, raising children, and making a home will occupy a goodly amount of their time and reduce temptation, especially as she takes responsibility for the administration of the home. It will enable her to escape temptation, having a sense of her own value. Failure to do so leads many away from Christ.

“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan.” (I Timothy 5:14-15)

Families that take their responsibilities in this area free the church to focus on those who have no other means of support. I Timothy 5:16 directs, “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.”

Following these guidelines will result in a charitable system that is not burdensome, but is pleasing to God. Modern ideas of charity are displeasing to him. It was never God’s intention that some should work so others don’t need to. As II Corinthians 8:13 -14 states “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:” Only those who help others have any right to expect others to help them.

There is no responsibility to help those who refuse to do their part. II Thessalonians 3:10 states, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”