"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." ―James 1:27
The
Bible mentions the words religion and religious only 6 times.
Five of them refer to false religion. Only in James 1:27 do we find
the Biblical definition of what religion is supposed to be. True
religion is reaching out to the poor, the homeless, the imprisoned, the
lame, the sick, the needy in Jesus' name. The church ought to
help genuinely struggling widows... "Honour widows that are widows indeed"
(1st Timothy 5:3). Shame on any church that doesn't reach out to the
poor and homeless.
The family of the widow has the primary responsibility to care for her... "But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God... But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1st Timothy 5:4,8).
A widow is free to remarry... "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord" (1st Corinthians 7:39). However, a woman who divorces her husband is NOT free to remarry (Matthew 5:32; 1st Corinthians 7:11).
The Bible encourages a widow to remarry if she is a younger woman... "But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan" (1st Timothy 5:11-15). Paul advises older widows and the unmarried to remain single as he was... "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I" (1st Corinthians 7:8). Yet Paul makes clear that marriage is certainly acceptable for those who desire to do so (1st Corinthians 7:9).
The New Testament church allowed certain widows to eat, work, and live within the church. The Bible gives strict requirements for such a widow... "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless... Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work" (1st Timothy 5:5-7, 9-10).
It is clear that the church was not a welfare program where any woman could demand handouts, live in sin, and take advantage of the goodness of others. There was no welfare system in Bible times. The church opened its doors to genuine widows who lived above reproach, showed forth good works, had faith in God, and manifest a spirit of kindness. Widows who lived in open sin were not allowed to stay at the church. This is not to say that the church refused to feed or help them, but they could not live at the church.
In America today, the welfare system takes care of the poor, widows, and fatherless. This is wrong. The government just hands out taxpayer money, unconditionally to anyone who applies for it. A godly pastor won't give a family food unless they are willing to come to church. American's today expect everything for free. I believe in workfare, not welfare. If every person on welfare had to attend church to receive the welfare money, America would be a much better place today.
God pronounces a curse upon those who take advantage of or prey upon widows...
"Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (Deuteronomy 22:22-24).
Matthew 23:14... "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."
I knew a man who died, leaving the home he worked a lifetime to pay for to his widow. She was old and missed the property tax payment deadlines. She was devastated when the authorities evicted her and confiscated the house. This is pure Communism in America (see Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto). God will severely punish those who take advantage of elderly widows, and steal away their homes. It is still happening today, just as it was in Bible times.
The most important advice for widows is the same advice for all believers―Keep Your Eyes On Jesus.
