Do You Have Such A List?

1 Timothy 5:9
No widow may be put ON THE LIST of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,

1 Timothy 5:11
As for younger widows, do not put them on SUCH A LIST. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry.

A keen reading of the letter of Apostle Paul to Timothy, tells us a lot about the church in Ephesus. Timothy was a pastor in Ephesus. Paul writes to give him guidance on how to run the church.

The letter reveals that the church had widows both young and old. The church had extended families living together, 1 Timothy 5:16. The church had elders who served well, 1 Timothy 5:17. The church also had critics who just like those of our time hate leaders for no apparent reason, 1 Timothy 5:19. The church also had elders engaging in open sin, 1 Timothy 5:20. The church also had leadership issues where some people were so desperate to be leaders and wanted it as fast as possible, 1 Timothy 5:22.

What captures our attention today is that the church had a list of needy people, 1 Timothy 5:9 and 1 Timothy 5:11. The church had a list of people who they were regularly helping by providing them with basic needs. It is even interesting that they had criteria for determining who gets into that list. Not everyone who makes us emotional gets automatic assistance.

If you are needy and have relatives who can support you, the church urges your relatives to help you, 1 Timothy 5:4. If you are needy but you are not a committed believer, you cannot be a priority, 1 Timothy 5:6. If you are needy and young, the church urges you to find something to do to earn a living, 1 Timothy 5:9. Do you have such a list?

Church support for the needy should not create depends on free things leaving people idle, 1 Timothy 5:13-14. Some people can be addicted to free things. We should be careful that we do not make people lazy as they expect free church support for anything and everything they need. Do you have such a list?

Resources to help the needy are limited. Those resources require proper management to effectively help all the genuinely needy cases. That is why this church had such a list. Do you have such a list?

Knowing the needy is one thing, having the list is being organized and intentional. If you have a list, you can plan and manage the resources well. Do you have such a list?

When you have the list, you are most likely to be fair. You will not be accused of biased. Favouring one race or nation or tribe over another. The needy will also know the church cares and will make alternative arrangements for what the church can’t provide. Do you have such a list?

May God make us so organized that we will have such a list for our extended families and God’s church. May God make us organized and productive, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

1. Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on the notification, and share)
2. Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center)
3. Rei Kesis daily blog here.