⁵Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. ⁶But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.

A “widow indeed” is one who is “left alone,” that is, she has no children or grandchildren (see verse 3–4), or for that matter no one to help her in her needs. Paul has in mind not all widows who have no one, but specifically those who are focused on pious living, as seen in their hope in God and their commitment to prayer. He is not talking about supporting a widow who is living for her own pleasure and comfort, in other words, a self-centered widow. Being a widow doesn’t entitle a person to the church’s charity; it does not give excuse for becoming an intentional freeloader. The church is therefore not to be a socialistic state that indiscriminately hands out money. Benevolence is to be intelligent.

While the passage will soon address a family’s responsibility to a widowed mother, what should the woman herself do who has lost her husband and who either has no children or they are unable to support her financially? Paul’s exhortation here is similar to his challenge to women with unbelieving husbands, to slaves, and to those who are oppressed because of their faith or other difficult life circumstances: they should continue on their trek for godliness. Widows (along with everyone else) should pursue living a life that is “above reproach,” the very same things elders are to model for all to see (1 Tim. 3:2, 7). Their circumstances don’t justify lowering the standard of godliness.

Paul, just as he did in 1 Timothy 4:11, inserts his mentoring instruction to Timothy, “Prescribe these things.” This can be translated as, “Keep commanding.” The people of God need constant reminders of things we already know to be the truth. Undergirding this instruction to widows is the message to all of us: we must give more than we take. Our attitude is not what we can get out of life, but what we can give in life. Reflecting back on the time in Ephesus when Paul was being little supported in his mission work, he said in his farewell address to the elders there:

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35).

But what can a poor widow give? Her entreaties and prayers! That is a huge benefit to others and to the work of the Lord.

Lord, help me be a giver no matter my circumstances.