I am encouraged by orphan advocates. Their are a gazillon of them. BUT…let us not forget how scripture teaches us to care…for BOTH the orphan and widow. ALMOST every time the orphan is mentioned in scripture–which is A LOT…SO IS THE WIDOW. So–my question is this: Why does the widow so often seem to be forgotten? Where are all the widow advocates? What about them?
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” Psalm 68:5
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Isaiah 1:17
“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.” Exodus 22:22-24
“Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” Jeremiah 49:11
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.” Psalm 146:9
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:5
“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” Jeremiah 22:3
“To turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!” Isaiah 10:2
“Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.” Isaiah 1:23
“You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.” Job 22:9
I could go on–but the point is…we can NOT put our focus on half of the command. I don’t want to live half-heartedly…I can’t say that I’m called to serve the orphan and not the widow when the Lord puts them TOGETHER over and over and over again in scripture…for a REASON. I don’t want to stand before God one day and hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant…BUT–you missed the other half.”
Orphans are beautiful.
BUT…so are the widows.
And they are together–for a beautiful purpose.
This Zambian widow has learned to sew–to create a product she can sell–to feed her single orphaned children…and make a difference in her world. What might she be doing if the founders of Wiphan had not followed God’s instruction and guidance to serve the widow? How might her children eat? How might she be looking for ways to make money? I don’t like to think of the WHAT IF answers…
We can’t take scripture out of context–or change it to work for us…we are called as believers to visit them both. To take care of them both. To serve them both.
I can’t imagine a life of not serving the widow. For me, God has changed my heart more through serving the widow…and I completely understand JUST A BIT why He puts them TOGETHER. Not just for THEM. BUT also for ME. Don’t miss out on the WHY. Don’t miss out what God might want to do through you as you look for ways to serve both. For me personally–it would be wrong to the seperate the two because the gospel doesn’t do that. And I want to follow the gospel.
Who are the widows in your church?
In your community?
Across the world?
THIS week–the widows of Wiphan Care Ministries are being blessed as a team has gone over to LOVE and SERVE THEM. Several ladies from Cup of Joy have gone to put on a SECOND women’s retreat (the first was last summer). The ladies walk over a mile to hear the gospel and be encouraged that God loves them…
They are led in worship…and many for the FIRST time hear that they are BEAUTIFUL…that God knows them BY NAME…they are VALUED…they have a PURPOSE…and they WORSHIP…
Wiphan Care Ministries could DO EVEN MORE in the lives of widows if others will join us in DEFENDING THE WIDOW.
For just $25 a month, you can support the widow program at Wiphan Care Ministries…investing in these beautiful women as they hear the gospel, learn a trade…and while some even love the orphans in our programs. Will you prayerfully consider supporting widows? Will you consider sharing widows and serving them with others?
And what about locally? Visiting assited living and nursing homes? How many widows do not have children or family coming to check on them? How many feel lost and left to die with no one caring for them? I believe it would make the heart of our Father smile if we, as believers, sought out how to serve not only orphans–but widows too. He didn’t seperate them–and I don’t want to either.
I can’t forget the widow in my life I love most either. And the son she gave me.
My life will be spent loving her…and seeking ways to serve others just like her.
My family is changed and more beautiful because of her hardship…
(granted it’s taken with an iPhone…but it is our baby boy’s FIRST breakfast out…and FIRST family picture…a more professional one to come later;)
And this is just before Parker and Frankie-baby fell OFF the table…because a piece of rotted wood broke off…good times:)
If you and your family have found a beautiful way to serve the widow, please let me know by filling out my contact page! We are making a list of ways for others to serve the widows so we can share–so we can help others follow James 1:27 in this beautiful way!
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