Verses 1-2
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Fellow believers in the church are to be seen as family. Treat them in a way that's appropriate for their age and gender.
Verses 3-16
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Churches are responsible to financially provide for the needy in the community.
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As part of a church, prioritize taking care of those who are in your own community(Galatians 6:10).
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Do not be quick to give handouts to people who are not in your community or non-believers.
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However, only provide for those who meet certain qualifications:
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The context of this chapter is widows, but apply the same principles to anyone in the church.
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Give to those who:
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Don't have biological family in the church to take care of them (verse 4).
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(Families in the church that don't take care of their own are worse than unbelievers).
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Are respectable, servant-hearted people who are/have been faithfully married (verses 5,9-10).
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Verses 11-15. Younger people, especially younger women, should have or start their own families.
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It is honorable for young women to marry, have kids, and manage a house. Young women should be encouraged to do this, and especially by older women in the church (Titus 2:3-5).
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Child-bearing is a powerful force for good in a woman's life (1 Timothy 2:15).
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Do not give to people who wander around looking for handouts. Instead, teach them how to take care of themselves and their own household. This is the best way to serve them.
Verses 17-18
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Give generously to your pastors if you know that they are studying the Word diligently and serving well.
Verses 19-20
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If you are a leader in a church, and you find out from at least two trustworthy witnesses that a fellow leader is continuing in a sin, rebuke them publicly—in a gathering of the church (Galatians 2:14).
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This is meant to bring a godly fear to everyone, so that they want to avoid sin. This also shows how accountable leaders are, and that leadership should not be taken lightly.
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Verse 21
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Be strict about following the instructions above.
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In deciding who you financially support, who you rebuke, etc...Don't relax or compromise these policies for anyone.
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Verse 22
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The laying on of hands is important for praying for others. Jesus often laid hands on people as a way of praying for them.
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“Don't lay hands on anyone hastily” - Laying hands on someone hastily is about the attitude in which you do so.
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Don't be careless when you pray for someone. Know why you're praying, what you're praying for, and mean what you pray.
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“Nor share in other people's sins” - When you lay hands on someone in prayer, whether you are knowingly in sin is important. When you lay hands on and pray for someone, if you have known sin or disbelief in your life—which you are not addressing—what you pray for will not be done.
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Prioritize growing your faith, “keep yourself pure”, and you will see better results from your prayers.
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Verse 23
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If you desire, use medicinal remedies to relieve sicknesses. This isn't wrong, nor does it violate faith.
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Know that it is not a sin to drink wine as long as it:
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Does not cause you to fall into addiction or drunkenness (1 Corinthians 6:12, Ephesians 5:18),
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Does not cause another believer to stumble (Romans 14:15,21).
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Especially, nourish your body with healthy food and drink. This will help.
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Even wine can be used for digestive health.
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Verses 24-25
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Some people hide their sin, but everyone's sins will be revealed on the day of judgment, and judgment for sin will be rendered to all.
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Good works, on the other hand, will be evident.
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Know people by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-16). But don't be too quick to assume that a person is godly or a believer. Give time for potentially “hidden” sins to be revealed.
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If you don't know, remember that God will reveal what's hidden in time (1 Corinthians 4:5). Nothing will stay hidden. Everything will be revealed (Luke 8:17).
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