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 saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 1 Timothy 5:9-10 (NIV)

A caring church is simply a community of people who serve one another, and this theme of serving is the focus here.

Paul speaks here about widows who are to be registered on a list. Is this a list of widows who are receiving support or is this referring to something else?

The qualifications for being on this list are different from the qualifications for receiving support earlier in the chapter (5:5). Widows on this list must be over sixty, faithful to their husbands, and well known for their good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting themselves to all kinds of good deeds.

It seems that this list is a register of people offering service. Here were a group of older people who offered dedicated service to the Lord through the church. If you have brought up children, and opened your home, and helped folks in trouble, and devoted yourselves to good deeds, your experience is a gift you can give to others in ministry in your golden years.

We desperately need to redefine retirement. “Re-tire-ment” is getting a new set of tires to keep rolling in the service of Christ!

If you are over sixty, what are you living for? What are you working toward? What do you want to do with your last years before you see your Lord?