Filial Piety
Paul tells Timothy that a true widow “trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Timothy 5: 5). Having lost her husband as the breadwinner, she must be even more driven to pray and trust God for the physical needs of her family. Bringing up children as a widow was no mean feat!
…let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents;”
Piety at home is shown in practical ways – by repaying our parents! One cannot claim to have piety but not repay his parents by providing for all their needs. If our parents have struggled long and hard to bring us up and provide for our needs, this is the least we can do. Thus, Paul says, “let them first learn to show piety” – learning to show piety at home is a priority. It is something we must learn “first”, not later on.
How can we learn to show piety? We may not be able to provide for our parents now because we may still be students. However, if we learn to love them and be appreciative of them now, repaying our parents would be the most natural thing for us to do when we are able to do so.
…for this is good and acceptable before God.”
When we learn to show piety at home, we please God, for it is good and acceptable in His sight. Let us always strive to do that which pleases God.
The Warning (1 Tim 5: 8)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This warning speaks for itself. A Christian is a Christian in substance, and not in form! We can go to church, attend every possible Bible study, fellowship group and worship service, but if we do not learn to do basic things such as show piety by providing for our own, then we have not known the Lord, we have not known our faith and all that it stands for. We would have in effect denied it completely.
Piety At Home As A Priority
In Singapore, we have a statute known as the Maintenance of Parents Act. The state has recognized that it is fundamental that we take care of our own and have made it a law to provide for our parents. How much more should we as Christians love and honour our parents by showing piety at home! Show your parents that you appreciate them. When you are able to provide for them one day, it would be the most natural response to do so with love!