Treating women like family

TODAY'S READING: 1 Timothy 5:1-2
I find it interesting that as Paul writes to his "son in the faith," he gives Timothy guidance on how to deal with men and women of all ages. I want to focus specifically today on how Timothy was advised to interact with women.
First, he tells Timothy to treat older women like he would his mother. Now, I would guess from other things Paul says that Timothy had a great amount of respect for his mom. I would also say that Timothy looked to his mother as a source of encouragement as well as instruction. Based on the kind of man that Timothy seems to have become, his mother had a huge positive influence on him, and that relationship appears to be a strong as ever.
So what does that mean to us as we interact with older women? We need to treat them with respect. We should realize that they often have wisdom and other blessings to offer us. Since Michelle and I both lost our mothers in 1999, God has brought a number of special older women into our lives that have served as "moms" for us. While they could never replace our moms, they hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts. And that is what the family of God is really supposed to be about. As Paul uses family terms to describe our relationships with others in the church, it reinforces the fact that we are just that...family.
Then Paul comes to Timothy's relationship to younger women. As far as I am aware, Timothy was not married when Paul wrote to him. So when Paul tells Timothy to treat younger women like sisters, there are huge implications behind that. We live in a culture today where teenagers are often expected or encouraged to have a boyfriend/girlfriend. I have known many teens who almost seem like they always have to have one. They go from relationship to relationship. And often those relationships miss developing connection outside of emotions and romance. The cycle I often see is this...
1) Hey, there is a cute guy/girl. (Or more often I would hear the word "hot" instead of cute.)
2) I think I want to go out with him/her.
3) They start dating and emotions and romance take over.
4) After a while the initial thrill wears off.
5) The relationship ends and the two seldom talk again.
I have seen a number of teenagers' lives go through this cycle. And unfortunately, they struggle to find a real, deep connection with anyone of the opposite sex. Now I realize this isn't true of everyone, but I would also say that today's popular culture feeds and encourages the quick romance. How many TV shows and movies show a couple in bed together long before they have built a relationship (not to mention the fact they are not married)?
Paul's advice to Timothy is as important and practical today as it was 2,000 years ago. Men should look at younger women as sisters. Our first instinct should be to protect them from others who might seek to take advantage of them. For some young men, they may even include themselves in this category.
I would say that not many guys (especially Christian ones) would want to marry a girl who has kissed, dated, or especially slept with other guys. So as young men seek relationships with young women, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First of all, you are beginning a relationship with a daughter of God. God created her. God loves her. And God wants the best for her. How are you treating God's daughter and what do you think her "Dad" would have to say about it?
Also, remember that you are dealing with someone who will more than likely be married someday. And if you don't marry her, someone else probably will later. If you don't want some other guy kissing or doing others things with your future wife, show that same respect to the guy who will marry this girl someday.
In our "microwave" society that wants everything right away, we have lost something. We often miss the important step of building relationships slowly and strongly. I think that is one of the biggest factors in the high divorce rate. Anyway, as people of God we are called to live by a higher standard. God wants us to treat all older women with the respect we should show our mothers and all younger women with the purity we would show our sisters. Imagine how different things would look - even in the church itself - if we could all seek to live by this guideline.

shine!
Jason