THE DUTY OF THOSE WHO HAVE RELATIVES DEPENDENT UPON THE CHURCH.
1 Tim. v, 4: “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable before God.” Verse 8: “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.” Verse 16: “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.” These words of the apostle are very explicit. They should not be overlooked, nor should they be treated with neglect. They clearly define certain important duties, which in a very great majority of cases, are never performed. 1. They state one method of showing piety. Many persons are very anxious to show forth their piety to others. Here is stated the proper method for children to do this thing. It is not to be performed, however, by fair words, or by high professions. Prayers and exhortations which are good in their place, are not the things demanded to meet this case. Many persons197seem to think these things the principal evidence of piety, and they labor zealously by their use to convince their fellow men how greatly they excel in piety and Christian experience. Yet if they were tested by the explicit rule of the apostle, they would be found utterly deficient. “Let them learn first,” says Paul, to show piety at home, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable before God.” Here is a tangible method of showing piety which God has promised to accept. Yet this very thing many persons overlook. This work requires labor, painstaking and self-sacrifice, but it makes no display before men. So this can never satisfy their perverted ambition. The painstaking is real; the display which it makes before men is too small to satisfy this unsanctified and selfish disposition. 2. But infidels can perform such deeds as these. It is true that they can; and what is more, some of them do actually attend to this work of filial piety with far greater faithfulness than do many of those who call themselves Christians. Paul was well aware of this fact. It was no argument against the excellence of the deed that infidels could be found who, so far as this duty is concerned, were worthy of imitation on the part of those who profess to love Christ. It was rather an occasion of the severest rebuke that this duty which nature itself impresses even upon an infidel, should be left unperformed by those who have named the name of Christ. “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” Those, therefore, who throw their parents or their children upon the hands of the church, when they can support them by their own exertions, are guilty of a great sin against God. 3. But there is another class whose duty is also clearly defined. The brothers or sisters or near kindred of destitute widows are instructed respecting their duty toward them. “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.” This is a righteous precept certainly. If there are worthy, destitute widows in the church, who have no one to whom they can properly look for help, such are widows indeed, and it is the plain duty of the people of God to extend relief to them. That they may be able to do this, the apostle places in contrast with these the case of those widows who have relatives able to assist them. “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.” This shows plainly where the responsibility rests. It is not upon the church, but upon the brother or sister of such widow, or upon those of her near kindred or connection. God holds such persons responsible, and in the day of Judgment will reckon with them thus. But if they will not extend relief to them, then after that fact has been manifested by trial, such widows may be proper subjects of assistance from the church; but the displeasure of the Most High will assuredly rest upon those who refuse to discharge their duty toward their own kindred in the flesh, who are also fellow-members of the household of faith. What is especially worthy of notice, it will be found generally that those who have little of worldly goods, will oftener share that little with a widowed sister, than will those who have ample means, impart even a small portion of their substance to such near kindred when they see them in distress. It is sad indeed to see men drowned in the spirit of worldliness, and utterly forgetful of the fact, that they are stewards of God, who must render account at the last day. What account can such persons render to the Judge of all the earth for their neglect of this plain duty? Will they tell him that they were in debt? Suppose in return he ask them what their debt was contracted for, what would they have to answer? Simply this: “It was to buy a second farm, or to invest in new land.” But should the Judge ask what right they had to add farm to farm and to lock up all their means in this manner, what would they answer? They must stand speechless before him. They had his direct commandment, to sell and give alms, but they chose to add to their possessions, which were already too large, by running in debt for other property, which they did not need; thus ever keeping themselves where they had a plausible excuse for refusing to give in the cause of God. It will be a terrible thing to come up to the Judgment thus self-deceived. How bitterly will such lament the blindness of their minds, and the selfishness of spirit which controlled their misspent lives. Let us thank God that repentance unto life is not yet too late. Such repentance as God can accept, however, produces entire change of conduct. Instead of living for self we must live for him who died for us. The day of Judgment will make thorough inquiry into our conduct toward the needy and distressed. See Matt. xxv, 31–46. We shall be examined with reference to our conduct toward those who have needed our assistance, even though they are not of our kindred. And how inexcusable shall we be found, if at that awful tribunal it shall appear that we have even failed in our duty toward our own widowed and destitute kindred, who were children of the living God, and members of the church of Christ. It is time that we were preparing to give account of our stewardship. And that we may do this to meet the approval of the Judge, let us not forget to examine ourselves in the light of 1 Tim. v.