Lesson 15: Faithful in your community
1 Timothy 5:7-16 - www.bible.com/bible/59/1ti.5

7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,
10 and having a reputation for 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.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry
12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.
13 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.
14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
15 For some have already strayed after Satan.
16 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.


Being faithful in our community is the same as being faithful in how we treat others – as we read in the last lesson. But this faithfulness to our community means we are not always the ones to make the choices. Sometimes others make choices for things we are then expected to do. This presents us with a problem – when are we to obey our civil leaders and when do we have the right or the obligation to disobey these leaders?

First, Romans 13 tells us every government is given its authority to rule by God. If we remember that Paul wrote this when the leader of the Roman government was Nero – perhaps the most insane man to govern the nation in its history – we begin to understand God means EVERY government rather than just those which rule justly and righteously. So even a government that hates God is covered in this command by God – our obedience is to be the general rule. However, the Bible also tells us clearly in the example of Peter, James, and John (in Acts 5:17-42) how God’s will still overrides man’s will, and we must follow Him when man’s rules oppose God’s way.

Two things we need to know about this situation: 1) we need to know God’s will and determine to stand on His word whatever the cost; and 2) we need to accept with joyful hearts the consequences of our disobedience to the government when we obey God rather than them.

*We obey whenever possible; we witness of God’s truth with love and grace whenever we cannot obey our government. Think of occasions when you may be called to obey God rather than governing leaders. Ask God now to strengthen and enable you to be faithful to Him in the future. In preparation, study His word and put on His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) daily.