The bottom line is that all widows should be receiving the care they need, without anyone getting overburdened by the responsibility. And she must have no family member to care for her (1 Timothy 5:9–10). Paul instructs that, for a widow to be supported by the local church, she must be over the age of 60 and she must have been faithful to her husband and have led a godly life. “If a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God” (1 Timothy 5:4). First, Paul puts an emphasis on a widow’s family taking care of her, instead of leaving it all up to the church.
#Widows and orphans bible how to
In 1 Timothy, Paul lays out more detailed instructions for how to care for widows (1 Timothy 5:1–16). Caring for those in distress is not optional for followers of Christ. In the New Testament, James says that taking care of the needs of orphans and widows is part of religion “ pure and faultless” (James 1:27). When He gave the Law to Moses and the Israelites, He gave instructions for how to treat the orphans and widows among them-with harsh consequences promised if they failed in their responsibility (see Exodus 22:22–23). God commands us to care for orphans and widows. “You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror” (Psalm 10:17–18). However, nothing escapes God’s notice, and He will avenge the orphans and widows. In our world, those who are helpless tend to be taken advantage of by those who think they can get away with it. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling” (Psalm 68:5). The Bible tells us that God Himself steps in to fill the role of protecting and caring for orphans and widows. When the man is not there, the wife and child can suffer in many ways. Husbands and fathers play an irreplaceable role in a family. God commands us to protect and care for orphans and widows (Psalm 82:3).
The Bible reveals God’s attitude toward orphans and widows: He cares very deeply for them. In biblical times, the main cause of a child being orphaned is that the orphan’s parents had died. James was written about AD48, with some believing that it is the first New Testament book.Widows are women whose husbands have died, and orphans are children whose parents, for whatever reason, are not in the child’s life. 27 A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 25 But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it-thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires-will be blessed in what he does.Ģ6 If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself,k his religion is worthless. 23 For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror 24 and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. 21 Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.Ģ2 Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. 20 For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 18 In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.ġ9 You must understand this, my dear brothers. 17 Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
Background Reading: Practical Christian Livingġ:16 Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. And includes these words - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
And he carries on writing that we must not merely listen to the word but Do what it says. James gives practical advice on things like quick to listen and slow to speak or become angry. James’s letter is very practical for Christian living. James wrote about looking after the weak in the body of the church.