Shayla: What biblical precepts should guide our decisions on who should receive benevolence? How do we prioritize?

Meforshim:

At the top of the list, with the highest level of priority, should be one’s own family. Note that the goal is to support them by yourself if possible, and not have the church burdened by what should be one’s own responsibility.

• 1 Timothy 5:8 HCSB Now if anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
• 1 Timothy 5:16 HCSB If any believing woman has widows, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

This is followed by one’s church family. However, within the church family, those who serve God and minister to us should come first.

• Luke 10:7 HCSB Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don't be moving from house to house.
• Galatians 6:6 HCSB The one who is taught the message must share his goods with the teacher.
• 1 Timothy 5:17-18 HCSB The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. (18) For the Scripture says: You must not muzzle an ox that is threshing grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his wages.

Then, in order of priority, come the other members of our church. The context of the passage that deals with the support of widows is the affairs of the local congregation. It would only have been possible to identify widows how met the listed requirements if those widows were attending the same church.

• 1 Timothy 5:3 HCSB Support widows who are genuinely widows.
• 1 Timothy 5:9 HCSB No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,

Then come those who are brothers and sisters in Christ, though not necessarily members of our immediate, local church family.

• Galatians 6:10 HCSB Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
• James 2:15-16 HCSB If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, (16) and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?

Finally, we are responsible to help our “neighbor”, identified by the Lord in the parable of the Good Samaritan as anyone we meet.

• Luke 10:29, 36-37 HCSB But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" …(36) "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" (37) "The one who showed mercy to him," he said. Then Jesus told him, "Go and do the same."

So from an individual’s point of view, if you have multiple calls upon the Lord’s resources and must prioritize the recipients of your benevolence, the priorities should read:

1. Personal family
2. Church leaders
3. Church family
4. Community believers (highlanders)
5. Community unbelievers (lowlanders)

A church diaconate should simply consider the last four.