Let's Go Back to the Bible

God cares for widows

As one reads through Scripture, it is quite apparent that widows have a special place in the heart of God. At Mount Sinai, one of the laws given to Israel was, “You shall not afflict any widow…If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot” (Ex. 22:22-24). God gave instructions regarding the harvesting of fields and vineyards, which included looking out for the widow in the process (Deut. 24:19-21). 

Fast forward to the New Testament, and we find Jesus praising a poor widow’s sacrificial gift (Mark 12:41-44), raising a widow’s son from the dead (Luke 7:11-15) and telling a parable about a persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8). In the early church, God made sure that widows being neglected were cared for (Acts 6:1-6), that families and the church understood their responsibility to their widows (1 Tim. 5:3-16), for such is “pure and undefiled religion before God” (Jas. 1:27).

It is evident, from His words and His actions, that God cares for widows. What about us?