Timothy and Titus Training 101

When Randy was a young pastor at his first church, he was given many opportunities to discern real need. Our church sat on the crossroads of two well traveled roads, on the line between two townships. If Randy was at the church, someone would come begging for help at least once a week. We learned, over the years to pray quickly, look into their eyes, listen to their story and then discern their real, heartfelt need.

The church was not rich, but was always willing to help…in the best way. The life and living of a professional beggar, those who make a living a begging, were becoming easier to discern over the guy who was down to his last dime and needed a better tire for his work truck. There were many people with many stories to tell. Some were true and others were not.

We found that the best way to help was to never hand out cash, but to use this teachable moment to take them shopping for food that will last them a little longer than a burger at McDonalds. Randy taught one man where to go to get a better tire at the local salvage yard and to put it on with little assistance from the tire store, saving a lot of money for the moment. There are survival tactics that we learned ourselves over the years that we passed on to those in real need. These “lessons” seemed more valuable to people than a dollar for the day.

We can actually do more harm but giving to those who rely only on someone giving to them. We are aiding their lack of initiative to find work. Their self worth and dignity is brought down even lower in consistent begging which adds to their negative thinking that there is no other way out.

As the family of God, let us constantly think with prayerful discernment what is best for this person, not what is best for us and what makes us feel good. It is about helping a person transform their life by giving them second chances to live in ways pleasing to God, relying on Him to supply their needs, while God uses us to help people get jobs, secure housing and budget in ways that will sustain their families. Yes, this is harder than writing a check for this takes oodles of time, but it is the best way to transform lives from begging to being contributors to someone else in need…for they have been there themselves.

Something to think about, as we read what Paul teaches Timothy about this and how to treat others. “Don’t be harsh…or impatient” says Paul to Timothy. Listen and reflect on the rest of this thought provoking passage. I am as I try to figure out how to help others best in my life.

1 Timothy 5, The Message
1-2 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.

3-8 Take care of widows who are destitute. If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. You can tell a legitimate widow by the way she has put all her hope in God, praying to him constantly for the needs of others as well as her own. But a widow who exploits people’s emotions and pocketbooks—well, there’s nothing to her. Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.

9-10 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church. They must be over sixty, married only once, and have a reputation for helping out with children, strangers, tired Christians, the hurt and troubled.

11-15 Don’t put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they’ll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. By breaking their word, they’re liable to go from bad to worse, frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. No, I’d rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. Some of them have already left and gone after Satan.

16 Any Christian woman who has widows in her family is responsible for them. They shouldn’t be dumped on the church. The church has its hands full already with widows who need help.

Reflection:
–How can I help someone else best without any thought for myself?

Dear Heavenly Father, When we are tried from working hard for our families and ourselves, we get cranky and impatient. Sometimes we don’t even see real needs right in front of us. We repent of this blindness and ask you to help us discern real need and guide us to help in the best way, Your way, relying on Your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for the experiences over the years that taught us. Thank you for people who helped us in our family. In Jesus Name, Amen