1 Timothy 5:13

“At the same time”: Another problem.

1 Timothy 5:13 “They also learn to be”: To be fully supported by the congregation without the need to work, would place the younger widow in. place of temptation. Notice, not working is not. good thing. Idleness, too much free time, financial freedom from working, can be. great curse.

1 Timothy 5:13 “Idle”: Which means free from labor, at leisure, lazy, shunning labor which one ought to perform. Such permanent support at such. young age can lead to. dangerous new habit.

1 Timothy 5:13 “As they go around from house to house”: There is nothing wrong in going house to house if we are teaching or doing good works, yet this constant movement is not constructive. “She might become one of those creatures who drift from house to house in an empty social round” (Barclay p. 132). Some feel that the woman is going from house to house because this is one way that the early church provided for them, that is, she would live with one family for. while then another.

1 Timothy 5:13 “And not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention”: The “busybody” is usually defined as one who pays attention to things that do not concern them, meddlesome and curious. The person who is busy about the affairs of others all the while neglecting important matters. “Since she had nothing of her own to take up her attention, she would be very apt to be over-interested and over-interfering in the affairs of others. It was true then, as it is true now, that ‘Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do'. The full life is always the safe life, and the empty life is always the life in peril” (Barclay pp. 132-133).

Point to Note

Paul does not even want to talk about the subject matter of such gossip. There is an important lesson here. There are two aspects to gossip, first the person who spreads it and the people who are eager to listen to it. There are things that are not proper to mention, in which Christians should have no interest. We need to examine our motives. Do we enjoy listening to spicy pieces of information? Are we eager to hear about someone's shortcomings or failure? Do we derive. certain amount of enjoyment from hearing about such things?