1 Timothy 5:21

1 Timothy 5:21 says, I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.  Paul then called on Timothy to observe or follow all the things that he had been saying without treating anyone differently than anyone else.  He was to show no partiality to any person or group of people.  This should still be true of preachers in particular and all Christians in general today.  We should not value one brother or sister in Christ above any other.  

Verse twenty-two adds, Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.  Paul told Timothy not to suddenly start a fight with anyone or be a partaker of other men’s sins.  We should not start fights with our fellow Christians, nor should we allow ourselves to sin because we see others doing it.  We are to be led by the Holy Spirit and not by the actions of other people.  

Verse twenty-three continues, Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.  Paul told Timothy to no longer drink water but to drink a little wine for his stomach’s sake.  It may be that Timothy had problems with his stomach and Paul was offering him advice that he thought would help with this, but I don’t believe that this is something that would apply to all followers of Christ today.  

Verse twenty-four states, Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  I believe this means that some people's sins are easily seen while other people's sins are hidden.  Some sins will not be revealed until the judgment of God comes.  Still, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He has paid the price for all our sins.  We should not allow hidden sins into our lives though.  

Verse twenty-five adds, Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.  Paul said that some works for God were seen before hand, and that those that weren't would not be hidden forever.  Jesus said that some people when told they had done certain things for God would ask when they had done these things, meaning they hadn’t done them for their glory but in obedience to His word and will.  Some of the things that we do for God as Christians may be seen and acknowledged in this lifetime, but I believe that those we do simply because we know that is what God’s word tells us to do that may never even be noticed by the world are even more important. 

1 Timothy 5:17

1 Timothy 5:17 says, Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  Paul said that the elders be given a double honor.  especially those who labored in the word and doctrine.  We should give preachers honor today, especially those who devote all their life to proclaiming God’s word and live true to it.  

Verse eighteen adds, For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.  Paul gave an example of not muzzling an ox while it was treading corn so that it would be able to eat what fell away.  He added that the laborer was worthy of his reward.  I don’t believe that this means that we are to just expect preachers who preach fulltime to be expected to live on just the scraps that fall by the wayside, but it means that we are to pay them well enough so that they will not have to worry about having their needs met.  This is what God expects of His people and not just something that we do out of the goodness of our hearts or grudgingly.  

Verse nineteen continues, Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.  Paul said that they were not to listen to accusations against an elder, or preacher, just on the word of one person, but that there needed to be two or three witnesses to whatever he was accused of doing.  Too often, people are willing to talk about preachers and even other Christians accusing them of wrongdoing without proof, and other Christians are willing to listen to them and even agree with them.  

Verse twenty concludes, Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.  Paul said that if an elder was guilty of sin, that he should be rebuked before all the church so that other elders would fear the consequences of sinning.  I think we can apply that principle to all those who are Christians.  We should never just gossip about them, but we should bring them before the church to answer the accusations and hold them accountable if they are living in sin once more. Then, if they confess and truly repent, they should be forgiven and never looked on as less worthy than any other Christian since we are all sinners saved by grace. 

1 Timothy 5:11

1 Timothy 5:11 says, But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;  Paul said to not help the younger widows because when they began to be in need they would marry.  We again have to remember that women in that day were dependent on a man to provide for them since they had very few rights and even few jobs available to them.  I am not sure that we should expect younger widows to marry just for security, and they have many more job opportunities today.  Still, they shouldn’t just rely on others to support them if they are unwilling to work to support themselves if they are physically able to do so.  

Verse twelve adds, Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.  Paul also said that young widows who cast off their faith would bring damnation to themselves.  I don’t believe that anyone who has truly accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will ever lose their salvation, so to me this would mean widows who had never put their faith in God.  

Verse thirteen continues, And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.  Paul said that these young widows who remained unmarried would have nothing but idle time on their hands and would wander around doing nothing but engaging in idle gossip.  Most young widows today are generally busy providing for themself and don’t have a lot of time for idle gossip, but there are some who expect family or society to provide for them, even if they are capable of providing for themselves.  Often those who are this way seem to enjoy spreading gossip about others instead of trying to provide for themselves.  

Verse fourteen states, I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.  Paul said it would be his desire that young widows get married again, have children, and guide her household so that no one would have any occasion to speak reproachfully about her.  He did not say that God commanded this, and not all young widows today who do not remarry live lives that bring them reproach.  I believe that if a young widow who is a Christian remarries, it should be because God had sent the right man to her.  

Verse fifteen adds. For some are already turned aside after Satan.  Paul said some young widows had already turned away from God and started following Satan.  I don’t believe that a Christian widow could ever lose her salvation, but she might engage in activities that she was tempted by Satan to do, and to me, that would even mean marrying for the wrong reason.

Verse sixteen adds If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.  Paul said if a family had widows that they should provide for them and not look to the rest of the church to do so.  We often look to the government or the church as a whole to meet the needs of our family that we ourselves should be meeting.

1 Timothy 5:8

1Timothy 5:8 says, But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Paul then began to deal with how a Christian man was to deal with his own widowed mother.  If he did not provide for her needs, he was no better than an infidel.   I say man because in the society of that day women had very few rights, but today it would apply to daughters as well as sons I believe.  

Verse nine adds, Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.  Paul then sets some standards for what constituted a widow that people should care for.  She was to be over sixty years old and the wife of only one man. 

Verse ten continues, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.  I believe this means that she had lived a good, moral life under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.