On Charity

1 Timothy 5:8-10 (8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (9) Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, (10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

Charity begins at home. There is a priority in view in this entire passage. Household first. Church fellowship next. Those outside the church (see v. 10) next. A side benefit of carefulness in charity is that idleness is restricted. Failure to care for one’s own household is an event so serious that excommunication is the penalty. The lack of action overrules the oral profession of faith. The principle is given here. Not every case is in view. Notice in verse 9 that a widow could be “taken into the list” (provided church welfare) only on certain conditions, including that she “has brought up children.” Now, if these were her children, one wonders where they are when she needs help. Perhaps they are dead, off on a military campaign, in prison, etc. Or, perhaps, they were themselves disobedient. Notice that there is no civil penalty mentioned here for failure to take care of parents. Under the principle of sphere sovereignty, not every sin is a civil crime.