1 Timothy 5:1-16

1 Timothy 5:1-16
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Bear in mind that Timothy was a younger man.  I am not sure of his exact age, but I'm going to say younger than 30.  Here Paul begins to teach him, and us, how we should interact and treat others in the church.   As a guy I especially take note of the treatment of younger women.
 
³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

When mom, dad and my two younger sisters moved to TN, I called up my Gram and told her that I would take her shopping.  I was the closest living relative and I made sense.  Many times Gram felt like a burden.  I'd remind her of the life she'd lived and then tell her to "reap the benefits of the life she had lived."  The last two years have flown by and now she lives with her daughter.  The blessings I received loving my Gram far outweighed the "work".

⁵ The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. ⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷ Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Read verse 8 again...and again.  Take care of you family.

⁹ No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ 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 deeds.
¹¹ As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹² Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³ Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴ So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. ¹⁵ Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

This list of widows was comprised of women who were cared for by the church.  Verses 11 and 12 makes me feel they would also have to make a personal commitment to the church as well.

¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

If God has put someone in your care, continue to take care of them.  Do not burden the church with the ministry you have been given.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.