Seeking the Spotlight

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow up?

Remember when you were a kid and people would ask you what you wanted to be when you grow up? For me the answer wasn’t a baseball player, an astronaut, or a firefighter.

I wanted to be famous. It didn’t matter what I would do. I just wanted fame. I wanted people to recognize me. I dreamed of the day I would walk down the street and folks would ask me for my autograph.

I loved me some me. And I wanted everybody else to love me too!

Famous for Being Famous

Yeah, I know. Pretty shallow stuff. But it’s true. One hundred percent true. Decades before the Kardashians and everybody who’s famous for just being famous, I had career goal of being a celebrity.

That’s exactly why Jesus’ teaching here in Mark 12:38-40 is like a dagger piercing my still bloated ego. Christ calls out the religious celebrities for their love of the spotlight. First, watch them. Second, watch out for them.

Not Just Any Tuesday

Before we zoom in on the details of the Lord’s dialogue, let’s pull the camera back for context. It’s Tuesday. But not just any Tuesday. This is Tuesday of the last week before His betrayal and brutal murder. 

The place is Jerusalem. Specifically, the temple courts. That’s where Jesus did a little housecleaning by driving out the various vendors who were making a quick buck on worshipers through a nasty system of exchanging currency and officially licensed sacrificial offerings. And you thought prices were bad at the airport!   

A Series of Confrontations

The temple courts are also where Christ faced a series of confrontations with all sorts of religious big shots (Mk 11:20-12:36). The chief priests. The religious teachers. The senior Jewish leaders. The Pharisees. The Herodians. The Sadducees. 

He took them all down. Every. Single. One. And the huge crowd in town for Passover went bonkers (Mk 11:37)! That will all change on Friday, but that’s a story for another day.

Back to Teaching

It’s at this point that Jesus gets back to teaching, you know, what He was doing before He was so rudely interrupted. He does so by using one of the groups who has just tried to ambush Him as an example of what NOT to do.

The Son of God says, “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Teaching the Teachers a Lesson

Ah, the teachers of religious law. You may remember them from just getting their collective butts whipped after poking their fingers in the chest of Jesus. He ends up teaching the teachers a lesson they will never forget.

So just who are these guys? The phrase “teachers of religious law” we see here is the Greek noun γραμματευς/grammateus. It’s where we get our word “grammar.”

Word Nerds

It generally describes anybody who deals with the written word. A clerk. A writer. A scholar. A word nerd. In Acts, Dr. Luke drops this term when talking about a local government bureaucrat (Acts 19:35).

But more often that not, it’s talking about a recognized expert in Jewish law. Think of a seminary grad or a theologian. You know, those folks who are your lifeline when you can’t figure out some confusing passage in Scripture.

Illiterate Idiots

Interestingly, some of these very same Hebrew honchos throw Peter and John under the bus after Jesus’ resurrection by calling them “ordinary men with no training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13). 

Most translations go easy on their trash talk and call them “unschooled” (NIV) or “uneducated” (NASB). But the original language here literally says they are “illiterate” (Gr. αγραμματος/agrammatos) “idiots” (Gr. ιδιωτης/idiotes).

I’m NOT saying education is a bad thing. But considering what Jesus is going to say about the cockiness of these religious hot shots, let's be careful not to think we’ve got it all going on just because we’ve got a couple of degrees on the wall.

On High Alert

Now that we know who the Lord is talking about, let’s taking a closer look at what He says about them. Spoiler alert. It’s not good.

He tells the big crowd to “beware” of these goobers. The original language uses a verb (Gr. βλεπω/blepo) which means to look at carefully, take notice and consider, or be on high alert while watching out for danger.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Picture one of those caution signs telling warning us of a slippery floor, an angry dog, or even a biohazard. When you’re around these religion experts, be VERY careful. Watch them VERY closely. 

It’s a lot like that famous warning from the robot on “Lost in Space”…Danger, Will Robinson! 

Bad Examples

So what makes these “teachers of religious law” such a threat? Jesus says one big reason is the bad example they set. Just watch how they “like to parade around in flowing robes and receive greetings as they walk in the marketplaces” (v38).

Don’t miss just how much they get off on everyone’s attention. Would you allow me to nerd out in Greek one more time? Ah, you’re the best!

The One in the Mirror

Check out the word the NLT translates here as “like” (Gr. θελω/thelo). It means to truly enjoy or take so much pleasure in something that you’ve just gotta make it happen.

They wake up in the morning thinking about it. They plan their whole day around it. They’re so focused on the one in the mirror that helping others never crosses their mind. 

These guys absolutely love getting all gussied up just to be seen in public. I mean, they are obsessed with it. Can’t you just see them standing in their walk-in closet carefully choosing their outfit. Hmm, I wore that robe yesterday. And that one is so 25 AD.

Hoping to Get Noticed

The language here makes it clear that these teachers don’t simply do this occasionally. No, they are preoccupied with it. And when they put on their best, they make sure they’re seen.

They constantly “parade around” (v38). They don’t just go to the busiest places in town which have the most people. They walk up and down, back and forth. Hoping to get noticed, looking for recognition. Nobody loves a parade like these teachers love their parade.

The Red Carpet

These dudes are constantly walking the red carpet. Their life is an extended photo op. Can’t you just see some First Century cable show dedicated to which theologian wore it best?

It seems to me that long before there was ever an internet or social media, these religious teachers were the original influencers. Let’s be blunt. When someone calls themselves an influencer, it’s usually a desperate plea for attention and fame.

The Best Seats in the House

Jesus tells the crowd at the temple how these Jewish celebrities are constantly angling for the best seats in the house. “And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets” (v39).

One commentator points out that there was a bench at the very front of every synagogue that faced the rest of the people. These are the seats they want. And it’s not so they have a good view. It’s so others will have a good view of them.

Looking for the Limelight

Think about that for just a second. When folks gather to worship God, these religious scholars are looking for the limelight. Here’s a pro tip: God refuses to share the stage with anyone or anything else.

Mind if I ask you a question? Why do you sit where you sit when you go to church? Is it to be seen? Is it so that others will know what a super saint you are? No, I didn’t think so. Where would I get such a ridiculous idea?

These scribes also seek to score the best tables at the restaurant. Anytime there’s an event, it’s important for their ego to sit up front. The closer to the speaker the better. 

A Truth Bomb 

What Jesus says here is a truth bomb that busts the bunker of my ego. For most of my life, I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted the attention. 

I’m fairly confident that I would have been a charter member of the religion scholars club if I lived during the days of Christ. Shiny new suit? Check. High traffic location? Check. Luxury box at church? Check. Best table at the trendy restaurant? Check.

Fear of Man

It hurts to type these words. But it’s the truth. I struggle with a little something-something called Fear of Man. The quick explanation is that I’m WAY more concerned about what others think of me than what God does.

The Holy Spirit has done some serious heavy lifting in my life over the past few years when it comes to this. I’m far from finished but grateful for what He’s done.

The Audience of One

A guy named Paul wrote something that the Lord has used to help turn things around. “I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Gal 1:10).

Pleasing people versus pleasing God. What’s it gonna be? It’s a choice I’m faced with just about every single moment my eyes are open. For me, the audience for which I perform is the Audience of One.

An Overwhelming Relief

What an overwhelming relief I found when I stopped trying to impress everyone and get the world to like me. I could stop being something I wasn’t. I could simply be the real me. The One who made made me not only knew me but loved me.

I didn’t need to dress to impress God. I didn’t need to go anywhere special for Him to see me. It didn’t matter where I sat in church or whether I sat at the kid’s table at the party.

Misdirection

Meanwhile, back in the temple courts, Jesus tells the big crowd what these religious teachers are REALLY up to while putting on a show. They may project a slick image but there’s something else altogether different going on.

These experts want you to look over here at their impressive activities. That will distract you from what’s really going on. Magicians call it misdirection. It’s that little trick of calling our attention over here so they can pull off the sleight of hand over there.

Stealing from Widows

So what exactly are they trying to do? I’ll let the Lord tell you. “Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property” (v40).

The scribes use their leverage to put the squeeze on those who can’t protect themselves. In First Century culture, widows were an easy mark. They had few rights and very little protection. 

Looking out for the Most Vulnerable

Apparently their strategy for building their real estate portfolio by running roughshod and basically stealing property from single women. No late night cable infomercials on how to flip houses for these guys. All they had to do was hoodwink a woman who’s lost her husband. 

A couple of thousand years later, has much really changed? Grifters and con artists are still target the elderly and single moms as their prey. As the followers of Jesus, we need to look out for those who are the most vulnerable.

Smokescreens and Flowery Prayers

Christ points out one of the favorite tactics used by the religion teachers. At the same time they’re cheating the powerless, they “pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public” (v40).

They throw up smokescreens with flowery prayers when the crowds are around. Jesus sure seems to indicate there’s not a whole lot of praying going on when they’re alone. As the divine Son of God, He should know who’s really talking to God and who’s not.

Flying Solo in Prayer

Here’s another moment when the Lord’s words hit a little too close to home for me. Don’t get me wrong, going to God in prayer with other followers of Jesus is an awesome experience.

But what’s my prayer life look like when I’m flying solo? Do I pray as passionately and frequently when I’m alone as I do when I’m around others? Asking for a friend.

Getting What They Deserve

The radical Rabbi/Carpenter wants us to know that these religious phonies won’t get away with it. “Because of this, they will be more severely punished” (v40).

He knows they will get what’s coming to them. Maybe not on this side of eternity but God ensures they will get what they deserve. 

How can Jesus be so sure? Because He’s the One who will do it! “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (2Cor 5:10).

Making God Famous

Which brings me back to the whole “what do you want to be when you grow up” thing we started with. Like a I said before, what I wanted was to be famous. What I wanted was to be liked. What I wanted was to be the center of the attention.

Little did I realize at that time that my career goal was to be a religious legal eagle. A phony who was only concerned with my image but had no real substance when you peeked behind the curtain. As they say in Texas, “All hat and no cattle.”

While I’m far from perfect, I’m so incredibly grateful that Jesus has saved me from that. That He saved me from MYSELF! My life is so much so more fulfilling now that my goal is to make God famous.

©2020

Jay Jennings

The Widow Protection Program

“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 of 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. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage 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” (1Tim 5:9-16).

Eligibility is a big deal. So many activities or programs require specific conditions before you can participate. An high school or college athlete must maintain a certain GPA. You have to be 16 before you can ruin your parents’ car insurance. If you’ve been paying attention during the past few elections, you know that a presidential candidate must be a natural born citizen. Someone determines ahead of time who’s in and who’s out. You must be eligible to participate. 

Here in a letter to the pastor of the megachurch in Ephesus, Paul specifically spells out the eligibility to be a candidate for care as a widow (1Tim 5:9-16). A lot of VERY smart folks have argued until they’re blue in the face over what the apostle is talking about in this passage. Some say he’s setting the bar for some sort of women’s auxiliary. I guess that’s possible. But looking at both the text and the context, it sure seems more like he’s simply describing who the church is will help and who’s on the outside looking in. In other words, he’s providing eligibility guidelines for the widow protection program. 

Pastor Tim has his hands full in Ephesus. His mentor Paul is on assignment up in Macedonia (1Tim 1:3), probably helping out the churches he started a few years back in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (Acts 16:9-17:13). False teachers have left a massive dumpster fire in Ephesus (1Tim 1:4-7; 4:1-3). Tim’s job is to get people praying again (1Tim 2:1-8), assemble a new team of godly servant/leaders (1Tim 3:1-13), and focus everyone’s eyes back on the Gospel (1Tim 3:14-16; 4:3-4). 

The apostle has just described how relationships within the church are like those in a family. We’re to love on the older women in our church like our own moms (1Tim 5:1-2). He uses that idea to kick off how to care for ladies who have lost their husbands (1Tim 5:3-7). We’re to show honor to those women who are legitimately widows. In other words, we provide practical support for any woman who has no husband or family to help them. If she has a family, they need to step in and step up for her. Your failure to provide doesn’t just diss your fam but disses your faith too (1Tim 5:8). You gotta figure that those spiritual con artists cooked up some scheme to divert cash that should been used to care for the widows into their own pockets. I told you these jerks were bad news.

At this point, Paul specifically describes a candidate for care in the church’s widow protection program. She needs to be at least sixty years old. Remember, the apostle is writing in the first century. Sixty isn’t the new forty as it is for us in 2016. Back in 64 A.D., sixty is more like the new eighty. Life was hard in the Greco-Roman world. Especially hard for women. Incredibly hard for older women. Impossibly hard for older widows. Is Paul dropping a sixty-year-old minimum age that’s still on the books in the 21st century? I don’t necessarily think so. But this is certainly a good place to start. 

As we read on, we see eligible candidates should have “been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation of 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” (v9-10). “The wife of one husband” (v9) is literally “one woman man.” This has really nothing to do with divorce and remarriage and EVERYTHING to do with faithfulness. Just as he did for elders and deacons (1Tim 3:2, 12), Paul is NOT talking about checking a box for marital status on an application. Was she devoted to her husband? In the words of Tammy Wynette, did she stand by her man?

The rest of these qualities point to a woman who poured her entire life into others. Her kids and grandkids. Opening her home to people she didn’t know so she could show them Jesus’ unconditional hospitality. Serving the followers of Christ when they were tired and burned out. Caring for the sick, disabled, and disenfranchised. These ladies give all of us a model to follow. It’s a reminder to each of us to stop staring at the person in the bathroom mirror and get our eyes on someone else for a change. Stop being selfish and start being selfless. I love how the Message says these ladies have a rep “for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled” (v10 The Message). Shouldn’t we all?

If these are the widows who are eligible, we then see those who don’t make the cut for support from the church. “But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith” (v11-12). These younger widows are still active and have, shall we say, a healthy libido. The phrase used by the ESV, “their passions draw them away” (v11), is actually one Greek word (Gr. katastreniao). It means to feel the impulses of sexual desire or experience strong lust. You can literally translate it to mean “according to desire.” Is Paul describing a first century cougar? Here’s the deal. It’s certainly okay for a widow to remarry. The danger is being so desperate to be married that you hook up with someone who doesn’t follow Jesus. That goes for anybody, male or female, young or old (2Cor 6:14).

Instead of devoting themselves to loving God by loving people, Paul says younger widows have a much higher probability of learning “to be idlers, going from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not” (v13). Do we really need to go into an in-depth word study of the original Greek here? In case you’re wondering, I did and it’s not pretty. It doesn’t take long before you get a picture of lazy ladies who spend all their time with their noses in everybody else’s business. Before you accuse the apostle of some sort of gender profiling, you do realize that men are just as capable of checking all these boxes, right? Come on, you know the difference between gossip and letting your friends know how they can “pray intelligently” about your neighbor down the street. Does your Facebook feed build folks up or tear them down? 

Tim’s mentor has a better idea. “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” (v14-15). Instead of falling for the lie that God has closed the book on their lives, he encourages these ladies to realize He may simply be writing a brand new chapter with a new husband and family. Be open to a relationship with a believer and the possibility of kids. This will serve the purpose of shutting up many of our critics. Clearly some Ephesian widows had already made the mistake of turning their backs on Jesus in order to date the devil. You do realize Satan doesn’t have your best interests in mind, don’t you?

Paul reminds us one more time of the big idea when it comes to caring for the women in our lives who’ve lost their husbands. “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” (v16). Here’s the bottom line. Don’t dump widows on the church. Mom and memaw are your family’s responsibility. There’s a pretty good chance she’s spent a few years wiping your nose and powdering your backside. Now is your chance to care for her. Don’t waste your congregation’s limited resources. “The church has its hands full already with widows who need help” (v16 The Message). Just call this the widow protection program.

Assisted Living, Gospel Style

“Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives” (1Tim 5:3-7).

Long before anyone came up with the idea of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, God told His people to care for their aging relatives. Here in Paul’s first letter to Timothy, the apostle gives the young Ephesian pastor specific and detailed instructions on focusing the church’s resources on those older women who are without husbands and without help (1Tim 5:3-16). We’ll look at the first part of this section here (1Tim 5:3-7). If she has family, they should step up. If all she has left is her hope in Jesus, that’s when her church family gets busy. It’s a critical way to show love to mom and memaw. This is assisted living, Gospel style.

Let’s face it. Caring for the elderly is not exactly a sexy topic. But it’s absolutely one of the most issues any church or family will ever face. It was clearly a bone of contention in the church of first century Ephesus. Think I’m making this up? Why else would Paul spend more time and ink on caring for widows than any other matter? Could it be that one of the worst impacts of the false teachers was the neglect and abuse of their senior saints (1Tim 1:3-7; 4:1-3)? Certainly strong extended family relationships are vitally important when looking for godly leaders of integrity (1Tim 3:2, 4-5, 12).

Can we talk about the elephant in the room for just a minute? Actually, this one is more like a massive woolly mammoth. Why isn’t this a front burner issue in the 21st Century American church? There is a massive proportion of our population that’s in need of care in the winter of their lives. It’s a percentage that’s growing every single day. According to the 2010 U.S. Census,13% of our Americans are at least 65 years old. And while men are living longer today than ever before, women are still outliving their husbands. 

When is the last time the topic of providing care for our widowed moms and grandmas came up at church? Getting uncomfortable, yet? Yeah, me too. My intent isn’t to be the travel agent for a guilt trip. But there’s little doubt that God calls His people to provide practical means of support for these women. If I’m a follower of Jesus, I’m to care for those ladies in my family who’ve lost their husbands. If an elderly widow has no one else, it’s time for the church to roll up its sleeves. 

“Honor widows who are truly widows” (v3). Here’s the bottom line when it comes to the subject. According to the folks behind the ESV Study Bible, Paul’s primary purpose is to identify widows who need the church’s help. He gives two key indicators. First, they have no other family (1Tim 5:4-8, 16). Second, they are examples of godliness (1Tim 5:5, 9-15). 

What does it mean to show someone “honor” (v3)? This is the Greek verb timao, which means to show someone respect, care, support, or simply treat them graciously. It comes from a root word describing something incredibly valuable, precious, and priceless. NT authors use it when referring to God’s Top Ten commandment about respecting our parents (Mt 19:19; Mk 7:10; 10:19; Lk 18:20; Eph 6:2). We show our widowed mothers and grandmothers just how precious they are to us by practically meeting all kinds of needs, primarily through our financial support. But don’t think you’re off the hook if you have the cheddar to simply write a check for assisted living. Nursing homes are full of lonely people. Show them their value to you with regular visits.

Paul uses a word for “widow” (Gr. chera) that comes from a term describing a huge emptiness. There’s a gaping void left by the death of her husband. It can also draw a painful picture of the chasm left wide open without any support from family. Unless we’ve lost a spouse, I don’t think we can wrap our brains or hearts around the Grand Canyon of grief it leaves behind. Jesus is the only one who truly fills that relational abyss. But one of the key ways He does that is through you and me.

God blesses His church with resources to manage and use effectively for His kingdom. A church shouldn’t support a widow who has family with the ability to love and support her. “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents” (v4). Let that sink in. Caring for your mom or grandma who’s lost their husband is first and foremost the family’s responsibility. Expect it. Plan for it. Don’t use the excuse that your money is tied up in charity work or supporting overseas missionaries. Jesus says that won’t fly (Mt 15:4-7; Mk 7:10-13). 

And don’t miss this point. Financially supporting our aging loved ones is a very practical means of worshiping God. It’s one way you and I can be sure to put a smile on His face. “For this is pleasing in the sight of God” (v4). You may not think of moving mom into your bonus room or visiting grammy at the assisted living facility as an act of worship to Jesus, but it is. I’m pretty sure this is the kind of thing Christ was talking about when told folks about feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting the prisoner, and clothing the naked. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, My brothers, you did it to Me” (Mt 25:40). When you do this for mom or grandma, you’re actually doing it for Jesus.

Paul turns from the widow who has a family to support her to the lady “who is truly a widow, left all alone” (v5). The original Greek text uses a word (Gr. mono’o) which means to be desolate, destitute, forsaken, and helpless. In the days before social security, life insurance, and 401ks, a woman would be left swinging in the societal breeze if she had no husband or son in her life to provide for her. Without them, these widows were helpless. While it’s not expressly part of this passage, one of the greatest ways that a husband can love his wife is by providing for her after his death. Don’t just make a point of piling up a nest egg but make sure you have a will that makes everything clear. Otherwise she may be destitute as the result of probate.

Did you realize Jesus did some first century estate planning in order to care for His mom? While He hung on the cross, Christ asked His best friend John to care for Mary as if she was the apostle’s own mother (Jn 19:25-27). Jesus knew the future His mom faced without Him. At this point, His kid brothers James and Jude hadn’t placed their trust in their God and Savior. That wouldn’t happen until their big Brother walked alive out of the tomb a few days later. Jesus gives us a great example of what it looks like for believers to care for our aging parents.

The apostle writes that a woman who’s left without family should first “set her hope on God” (v5). She knows the Father is ultimately the One who will provide her with what she needs. When Jesus teaches His posse the basics of prayer, He points out the importance of dependance on our Heavenly Dad. “Give us each day our daily bread” (Lk 11:4). This has nothing really with whether you’re gluten-free or not, but rather trusting in our generous God to give you what you need each day. While we should all set our “hope on God” (v5), a widow probably has no other choice.

So just what does a godly lady do when she’s lost her husband and has no family? She prays. She “continues in supplications and prayers night and day” (v5). Dr. Luke gives us a perfect picture of what this looks like. When Joe and Mary headed to the temple just after the birth of their first Son, they ran into Anna. After losing her husband, this 84-year-old prophetess not only lived at the temple in Jerusalem but devoted herself to “worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” (Lk 2:36-38). Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for herself, a godly widow leverages her available time for others, specifically in prayer. 

And if there’s any doubt about how a widow should NOT roll, Paul writes, “But she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives” (v6). He drops a Greek word here (Gr. spatalao) that means to live luxuriously or seek to gratify your own appetites and desires. It comes from another term used to describe a riot that’s completely out of control. The only other time we see this word used in the Bible is when James warns the wealthy, “You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence (Gr. spatalao)” (James 5:5). Just ask the prodigal son how that works out (Lk 15:13-16). 

This woman makes the tragic mistake of making herself the priority and blowing everything she has on herself. We’re talking about so much more than money. She is black hole of attention, dragging everyone into her drama. It’s completely the opposite of the godly widow in the previous verse who fasts and prays (v5). God calls us to live selflessly not selfishly. Follow Jesus’ example of sacrifice and flip org chart. “In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4). The Message nails this idea. “But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her” (v6 The Message).

What this wild widow doesn’t realize is that she’s “dead while she lives” (v6). She’s a dead woman walking. This lady is actually no more alive than her already dead husband. SPOILER ALERT! She’s like Bruce Willis’ character in “The Sixth Sense.” This widow is dead and doesn’t realize it. (If I spoiled the big reveal of that movie, this one is completely on you. That flick came out in 1999.) 

Paul gives Pastor Tim specific instructions about what he’s to do with this info about widows, families, and the church family. “Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach” (v7). Let’s review “these things.” Take proper care of these women who truly can’t take care of themselves. Family’s need to step up and provide for the ladies in their lives. If she has no family, the church steps in. Gently encourage these widows to allow Christ to fill the void in their lives and devote themselves to prayer. Warn those who’ve lost their husbands not to be a dead woman walking. This is assisted living, Gospel style.