Early Church Economics: Caring for the Widows Indeed

A bullet-point outline from the message given in the Keswick Tuesday Zoom service on September 9, 2025.  Some requested the written transcript.

(This teaching is an EXCERPT of a larger study called “Early Church Economics” that I partially presented on a Tuesday night Keswick Zoom service many months ago.)

 

THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE EARLY CHURCH

• From the beginning of human history, simply surviving has been a big deal for everybody.  We all need to make a living, to have enough food, clothing, and someplace to shelter.

• Today, our modern governments in the Western world have set up social programs to take care of the less fortunate ones in our society.  We have Social Insurance in Canada and Social Security in the United States.  We have Welfare, food banks, retirement plans, etc.  As a result, people don’t seem to need God as much.  They have the government to supply their needs.

• But our God is a caring God.  The Law he gave to Moses provided for those less fortunate in life.

Leviticus 19:9-10     ⁹ And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. ¹⁰ And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

• But throughout history, most people did not have these social safety nets.  What they had was FAMILY.  The family unit was always God’s will, where the parents supplied for the children, and in turn the children, when grown, cared for their elderly parents.

• ·       The family was the safety net that made sure everyone’s needs were met.  Men worked; women took care of the house and raised the children.  Men were masculine and women were feminine.  This is how God created things to work.

•         But the Serpent knew if he could only mess up that order, make it so that the man was irresponsible, it would force the woman to rise up and “wear the pants” in the family to compensate for her husband’s inadequacies.  After all, the bills still had to be paid, the kids still had to be fed.  Men became weaker than God intended them to be, and women became stronger than God intended them to be.  And this is why so many families are messed up today.  Extra-marital affairs, absent fathers, divorce, child abuse, spousal abuse, rebellious youth. It’s nothing new; the spirit actually goes back to Adam and Eve.  It may feel like a modern problem, but even 100 years ago, the song “Masculine Women, Feminine Men” was very popular.  You can still find it on You Tube.

• Families were messed up in Bible days, too.  Maybe not by today’s epidemic proportions, but some were. By the time of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, the family unit was a mess.  That’s why God moved on Malachi to prophesy that John the Baptist would come in the spirit of Elijah and prepare the way for Jesus Christ.  And John’s message of repentance would restore the family unit to right order.

Malachi 4:5-6    5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

• It’s a curse to have a family that’s out of order.  It’s dysfunctional and an awful way to live.  But a family that is in order is a blessing.

• As I already mentioned above, because of the break-down of the family unit, governments have taken the place of the family in the support structure.  This has further weakened the family unit.  Whether it’s their own career (I’m not saying women can’t have careers) or whether it’s government support, ungodly women too often don’t need their men anymore to be their providers.  Statistics show that in third world countries where the family unit is still the primary social support system, families stay together and everyone is happier.
  

• ·    There is no perfect man-made government.  Communism—a societal system where everyone’s needs are equally met—has proven to be a failed system when governed by man.  It doesn’t work for three reasons:

  o   Firstly, it leaves God out of the picture.  (Karl Marx, an early father of Communism, said, “Religion is the opium of the people”.)

  o   Secondly, because it produces laziness in men.  (If my needs are met by someone else, why should I work?)

  o   And thirdly, men are naturally greedy.  (“Why should my hard-earned money be given to some lazy bum who didn’t work for it?”)

•      But the idea behind Communism is a good concept.  It’s actually a GOD concept!  They practiced it in the Early Church, and it DID work for them.  But it worked for three reasons: 

  o   Firstly, Jesus Christ was at the heart of that church.

  o   Secondly, men were taught to work and support their families.  Everyone was pulling his weight.

  o   And, thirdly, they cared for the poor, especially for the widows, the orphan and the stranger.

Acts 4:32-35     32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

• There was a strong sense in the Early Church that they were the family of God.  And it was a highly functional family.  They took care of each other’s needs.
  

• Bringing into our day, it’s GOOD to donate to the local food bank or to buy a meal for the homeless.  But it’s BETTER to take care of God’s family.

Galatians 6:10    As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

• James was the pastor of the Church in Jerusalem, and when he wrote the following verse, he was actually citing the Law of Moses, how God commanded the Hebrews to take EXCEPTIONAL CARE of the widows, the orphans, and the strangers (non-Jews) who wanted to be a part of God’s Holy Nation.  (See Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 24:17; Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; and Zechariah 7:10.)  

• James wrote:

James 1:27     Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

• Notice the order here.  Pure religion and undefiled is FIRSTLY to do the natural job of taking care of those in desperate need, and SECONDLY to do the spiritual things.
  

• ·        Ours is spiritual gospel, but it definitely has a PRACTICAL side.
  

• ·     Here’s a scripture that shows the natural operations are still under the order of the ministry:

1 Corinthians 12: 28     And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

• This teaching today is more about the NATURAL operations of the church.  We’re talking about the gift of HELPS, and the gift of GOVERNMENTS to organize it all.

• The gift of DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES is probably speaking about the TRANSLATORS in the Early Church, rather than speaking in the tongues of angels that no one understands but the Lord (unless there be interpretation).  God wants everyone be a part, no matter their spoken language!  No one was left out!  This was, and still is, all so important to the function of the family of God!
  

• We tend to think of the Early Church as being super spiritual.  They WERE spiritual, of course, but the church had a natural side.  They had no social services from the government to supply the needs of the poor.  They had no health system, or even health insurance.  That’s why there were so many beggars in the streets.  But the Government of God stepped up to the plate and took care of their own. 

• Many years later, as an old man, the Apostle John still held to a message they practiced when he was a young man, and one of the main leaders of the fledgling church.

1 John 3:16-19    16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 

• Again, the reason why the Bible calls us brothers and sisters is because God is emphasizing the FAMILY of God.  We are a family unit, the original God-ordained social support structure.

•  James wrote something very similar:

James 2:15-17     15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

• And the Early Church practiced what they preached.  The Church in Jerusalem ran a food bank and had a massive, and well-organized distribution ministry.  They were a well-oiled machine!  (Well, maybe well-oiled with a few problems that had to be worked out.)

• See, the Early Church had primarily a Jewish demographic at that time.  It was before God opened the door to the Gentiles.  But many Gentiles—called “Greeks”—had come into the church on the day of Pentecost and afterwards.  Remember, God had commanded his people to care for the strangers, not only the widows and orphans.  These non-Jewish widows were also the strangers.  And sadly—whether it was because of purposeful bias or accidental oversight—the Greek widows in the church weren’t getting their daily food hampers.

Acts 6:1-7    1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

• Years later, after Paul was working with the Gentiles, he adopted the communal system of support for them that the original 12 Apostles had implemented for the Jewish church.

• A year before Paul wrote the epistle of 2^nd Corinthians, the church in Corinth had promised that they would take up an offering for the financially struggling church in Macedonia.  They had been “forward” (or willing) to do it the year before, but for some reason, they just never got around to it.  So, in the following text, the Apostle Paul is gently reminding them to keep their promise and take up an offering of non-perishable food items for their hungry brothers and sisters in struggling Macedonia.    

2 Corinthians 8:1-15     1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit (witness) of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their (spiritual) liberality. 3 For to their power (credit), I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty  (begging us) that we would receive the gift (collect the offering that was promised), and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.  (They sent Titus to Corinth with this letter to collect the promised offering.) 7 Therefore, as ye abound in everything (spiritual), in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in THIS grace also (of natural things). 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for YOUR sakes he became poor, that YE through HIS poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward (willing) a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time YOUR abundance may be a supply for THEIR want, that THEIR abundance also may be a supply for YOUR want: that there may be EQUALITY: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

• So, the ministry expected God’s people to take care of their own spiritual family, especially those who had no external means of financial support.

 

WIDOWS & WIDOWS INDEED

• We have many beloved widows among us, and we all know who they are.  Mostly, they are our mothers in Jerusalem.  Many are pastor’s widows.  And I have personally felt a burden for these sisters for many years.

• There were two kinds of widows in the Early Church:  Widows and Widows Indeed.

•  Widows were women whose husbands had passed away, but they still had natural family that could support them.  And the Apostles EXPECTED the family to care for their mom, or for their aunt if she had nephews but no sons.

• Widows Indeed were women whose husbands had passed away, but they had NO FAMILY to support them in their old age.

• It’s good to remember that sometimes when the Bible speaks of honoring someone (like in the following scripture), it doesn’t necessarily mean holding them in high esteem.  Sometimes it actually means PAYING THEM, as in the word “honorarium”. 

• The meaning of honorarium is “a payment given for professional services that are rendered nominally without charge.”

1 Timothy 5:3-10    3 Honour widows that are widows indeed…

• Paul is telling Timothy that THE CHURCH SHOULD SUPPORT their widows who have no other means of financial income. 

• But NOT the widows who have sons or nephews.  (Remember, in that day, most women did not work paying jobs, or at least they usually didn’t make enough money to support a family.  That was always the man’s job, as ordained by God.)

4 …But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety (fidelity, faithfulness) at home, and to requite (financially support) their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

• Paul then tells Timothy the QUALIFICATIONS to be considered a widow indeed in the Body of Christ.

5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day…

• A widow indeed is DESOLATE, having no family support.  She has no other recourse but to trust in God for her food and shelter.

• Also, she now has a JOB in the church.  Her job is to PRAY for the church night and day.

•  Remember, the definition of “honorarium” is: “a payment given for PROFESSIONAL SERVICES that are rendered nominally without charge.”  So, she is providing a service to the church.

• Then, skipping two verses, Paul goes back to widows with family, and he strongly warns the family that it is THEIR responsibility to support their mother, aunt, (and I’ll add grandmother) in her old age.

 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.

• Fidelity means faithfulness.  An infidel is someone who cheats on his wife with another woman.  If families (specifically men) do not support their widowed older women, they are actually WORSE than an adulterer.  An adulterer may continue to support his family.  In this case it is ABANDONMENT of a helpless family matriarch!

• So, the Early Church had a societal support system to care for their own.  In those days, they did not get government support.  But the people of the church came together and had all things common. 

• Many in the Jewish church sold their properties to support their poor, including this little program—or should I say “widow program”?—administered by Stephen and Phillip and the other five.

• That’s where the story of Ananias and Saphira comes in.  They wanted people to THINK they’d given EVERYTHING to the church to support the needy, when in fact they’d held some back for themselves.  (They didn’t die because they held back money; they died because they lied about it.)

• And later, for the Gentile Branch of the church which God grafted in, Paul and Timothy and Titus implemented the same procedures to care for their widows indeed for the Gentiles.

• But there were qualifications to be considered a widow indeed, and Paul goes on to list them.

• She had to be at least 60 years old, and she couldn’t have been divorced and re-married. 

 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number (of those the church supports) under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man…

• I would think that the EXCEPTION to the divorce and remarriage qualification would be if that happened BEFORE she came to faith in Christ.  (If any man [woman] be in Christ [they are] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17).  But Paul doesn’t say that here.

• And here are a few more qualifications for a widow indeed to be taken into the number of those the church supports.  She must be…

10 …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.

• Verses 11-13 are admittedly uncomfortable for me.  Who am I to say anything against the Apostle Paul?  But it seems that he had a temperament much like that of President Donald Trump.  A very good leader but sometimes painting entire swaths of people with the same brush, like when he wrote about the people from Crete.

Titus 1:12-13    12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, “The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies”. 13 This witness is true.  Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

• ·       And it seems to me like Paul painted all the widows under 60 with the same negative brush in the following verses, no doubt influenced by some ladies who really acted this way. 

1 Timothy 5:11-13    11 But the younger widows refuse (to support): for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 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.

• But he goes on to write that the younger widows SHOULD get re-married, because the responsibility of homemaking will keep them out of trouble.  And besides that, it relieves the church from having to support them.

• Keep in mind that there could have been hundreds of thousands of people in the Early Church, so they had no shortage of single people, both men and women.  It was much easier to find a spouse in the Body of Christ in their day than it is today in our current state.  (God help our young people!)

1 Timothy 5:14-16     14 I will therefore that the younger (than 60 years old) women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan…

• Paul finishes this chapter by again reminding the believing family of a widow that it is THEIR responsibility to provide for her needs, not the church’s.

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.

• I began this lesson by saying that this system of social care did not start with the Early Church family.  It started with the Law of Moses and the Hebrew family. 

• And even before the early church, when Jesus was an 8-day-old baby and Mary and Joseph took him to be circumcised, there was a very Godly widow indeed who lived and ministered in the temple in Jerusalem.  Her name was Anna.

Luke 2:36-38    36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

• We in the Latter Church family should show the same care for our widows indeed as the Hebrew family and the Early Church family did.

• ·       Today, at least in our part of the world, the governments do supply some relief, and thank God for that.  We can use, but not abuse, the social safety nets our governments have in place.

•       But oftentimes, these government pensions are not enough, or barely enough, to live on.  And I hate to see our elder sisters having to work at natural jobs at their advanced ages just to make ends meet. 

• Understanding Early Church Economics is important for us.  We should pattern ourselves after them.  The church family as a whole took on the responsibility to support their widows indeed.  They had food banks and distribution systems that ensured their godly widows with no family support were looked after.

• And wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that our widowed sisters, often our mothers in the Lord who have earned our respect and honor…and honorariums...were, like Anna in the temple, covering us night and day with supplications and prayers?  This pastor thinks so.

• Of course, as always, I’m “preaching to the choir”.  We already do this to a large extent.  And I thank you all for the care and deep respect you have for our elders, and especially our widows.