What attitude should the Church have about widows? We should take care of them. Paul first gives a quick definition of widows. He observes that the children of widows should learn to care for them. They have been cared for by their parents and should take care of the parents in return. Younger widows should be encouraged to move on with their lives in some ways. Paul's point of view is that the younger widows will end up desiring to marry rather than to live as widows. This is fine and should be encouraged.
What about older widows who don't have children who are able to care for them? We re to care for them. They can devote themselves to serving the Lord by serving fellow believers. In turn, the Church should care for the widows the Lord has entrusted to her.
Paul anticipates that there will be more demand for care than the Church as a whole can meet. He encourages families to care for their widows. Sadly, in this modern age, we see there are many widows but they turn not to their families, not to the Church, but to their government for help and support. This encourages people to look to the world for care and comfort rather than looking to the body of Christ.
Know any widows? Know some way to care for them? It's an honorable occupation.
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