Stewards of Caring for Widows

1 Timothy 5:9-10    
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

The widows who could care for themselves or remarry were not to be supported by the church.  These were those under sixty years old at that time.  But those over sixty also had to have lived responsibly and rightly before that age, faithful to their deceased husband and known for living to serve others in doing good.  Examples include raising children, helping the stranger outside the church (as the Good Samaritan in Lk.10:33-37), caring for those within the church, comforted the suffering, and doing what she knew was the good and right thing before God and man.  This seems a tall order, but indicates that assistance was for those who assisted others, and not just becoming a welfare institution.  We are to be good stewards in the body and help the needy, not those merely wanting to be helped.  This is a hard saying which requires much wisdom in each case, and is why Paul addressed it here at length.