Excerpt from I Timothy 5: 9 – 10

"Enroll widows older than sixty, wife of one husband, a reputation for good works--she has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of believers, helped in difficult times, accompanied by all kinds of good works."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

Taking care of the vulnerable, paying attention to those at life's margins, is a core practice of the church. This is often expressed in the Bible as "caring for widows and orphans," both because widows and orphans were among the vulnerable and as a symbolic shorthand for all those who are particularly vulnerable. Today that might include others: the mentally ill, single parents, the elderly, the differently-abled.

Here Paul instructs the young pastor, Timothy, on which widows are to receive the congregation’s aid and support. He says those who receive such aid are also expected to do some things as well as avoid other things. They are to do "good works, practice hospitality, and help during difficult times." They are to avoid "laziness, gossip and meddling."

I suppose this could seem, and even be, demanding or legalistic. But there’s another way to look at it. Sometimes we see people who need help as only receivers, only objects of aid or charity. Paul sees those in need of the congregation’s aid and support in a more humane, respectful way. They, too, have something to give. They are not just passive objects or receivers, they are active subjects and givers, capable of doing good works, practicing hospitality, helping out in hard times, and practicing good character.

Maybe all of us are really both givers and receivers? We need others, their help and care. And we have gifts to give and a contribution to make. When we turn some people into receivers only we miss an opportunity and can even dehumanize people. And when we see ourselves as only givers and doers, and not also receivers, we become impoverished in a different way. We become impoverished receivers, unable to receive others’ gifts to us, and, even more sadly, unable to receive God’s grace for us.

Prayer

Help me to receive the gifts of others today, even as I would share my own--and all of this for the common good and to build up the body of Christ. Amen.

About the Author Tony Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His most recent book is Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

The Daily Devotional is now on Facebook. Become a fan!

Sign up to receive Daily Devotionals

More items written by the Stillspeaking Writers' Group