WIDOWS, ORPHANS, THE AFFLICTED AND THE POOR. "These are the words of the Lord of Hosts: Administer true justice, show loyalty and compassion to one another, do not oppress the orphan and the widow, the alien and the poor, do not contrive any evil one against another." (Zech 7:8-10 NEB). The apostle James went further in conveying the Will of God in this matter, when he wrote: "The kind of religion which is without stain or fault in the sight of God our Father is this: to go to the help of orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself untarnished by the world." (James 1:27 NEB. See also Malachi 3:5, Jeremiah 7:5-7 & Isaiah 1:17 NEB).
To oppress orphans, widows and the poor is to knowingly deprive them of their physical and spiritual needs while having the power and resources to relieve them of their distress. But what if a widow, orphan, or someone poor shows contempt for the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and rejects the Christian way of life he has given to us? (2 Esdras 9:9-12 NEB). To help such ones would mean becoming "tarnished by the world" and actively promoting Godlessness. As we must not put ourselves on Judgement by what we approve, we must do our utmost to be found by our Heavenly Father Jehovah "spotless and unblemished and in peace." (2 Peter 3:14. Rom 14:22). Hence, we must direct our care to those widows, orphans and the poor that are true servants of God. As to who really are deemed widows to be cared for within The Christ's congregational arrangement, please refer to 1 Timothy 5:3-10 & 5:16 NEB.
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