MONDAY May 5, 2025
Idle Time Is the Devil’s Playground
Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after Satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
1 Timothy 5:14-16
Within any church, gossip can become a big problem. This was an issue that needed to be addressed in the early church. Idle widows had nothing better to do than become busybodies. They went from house to house and refused to stay home. You have probably heard of this saying: “Idle time is the devil’s playground,” and, in this case, it proved to be true.
What was the solution to the problem? Paul knew the answer––the young widows needed to be kept busy! They should marry another godly man, have children, and manage the many duties in running a household. In doing so, there would be no opportunity for Satan to get a foothold over their lives––to give a black eye to their character or to the church.
Paul’s letter to Timothy also returned to the subject of the elderly widows. Consider what else he had to say. Although the church willingly helped widows, the church was not solely financially responsible for them. It was a shared responsibility among believers, but more importantly, it was the responsibility of a destitute widow’s family to take care of her financial needs.
Once again, in relation to young widows and young women in general, the main priority was purity. Until the Lord brought them another spouse, they were to remain chaste. I would exhort young women, whether single or widowed, “Why give Satan the opportunity to destroy your life, when God has such a wonderful plan for you, even if you are widowed?”
There is dullness, monotony, sheer boredom in all of life when virginity and purity are no longer protected and prized.
~Elisabeth Elliot~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
