The Church is family – the over 60’s.

I had forgotten about this interesting comment about a list of widows who were 60 years and over.

“No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good works.” – 1 Timothy 5:9-10

What does this tell us?

• The early church had a formal support system that honoured and cared for its most vulnerable members. 
• There was a list. Not everyone made it on there for there were criteria.
• The woman had to be 60 years of age, maybe because for that generation it represented a benchmark of maturity, a woman who had wisdom and had survived this life. 
• The woman had to be known for her acts of love.

The Church today needs women like this. Look at those criteria again. We have those women in our churches and we need more. These women possess a wealth of wisdom and experience. They are a blessing to the Church. 

Whether we are 60yrs or not, these honoured women, on a list, challenge the church in every generation, to measure love by acts, vulnerability with care, and when there are decades of faithfulness, to honour and celebrate such service.