In honor of Caroline McIntosh
God's high view of the widow is borne out in both the Old and New Testament. Those serious warnings in the Old Testament (Exodus 22:23-24; Deut. 27:19) are strong statements of the significance of a widow in His eyes (Psalm 146:9). His eye is on the widow and His ear attuned to her. Widows are featured significantly in the Scripture. Ruth was a widow when she married Boaz and became the Great-Grandmother of David, the greatest King of Israel who was a type of the Ultimate Greatest King of Israel. The prophet Elijah survived a stretch of famine in Israel through the generosity of a widow. In the Jerusalem temple, Jesus pointed out a poor widow dropping her last coins into the treasury. She gave all she had, and became, not an object of sympathy, but an example for all to follow. Then there was Anna, who, after meeting with the infant Jesus, His mother Mary, and Joseph, "spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). She was one of the first to proclaim the reality of the arrived Messiah! Consider the parable that Jesus told about the persistent widow to teach us how we ought to pray (Luke 18:1-8).
The New Testament church at an early stage took seriously their responsibility to care for widows (Acts 6). However, these woman were not always receiving from the church. Paul describes some widows as being "well-known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble, and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds" (1 Timothy 5:10).
God doesn't expect widows to be exiled to the margins of church. In fact, it is clear that God uses widows as important assets in the continuing story of redemption. We must be careful not to define her exclusively in terms of lack or burden. We must be careful that we don't set her aside as insignificant. She has great value to the church. For example in many instances, she is an indispensable source of wisdom, especially to younger women (Titus 2:3-5). She also represents to us a vast number of people who are disadvantaged, therefore reminding us of our duty and privilege to care and provide for these. She is a test to measure how much theology we've taken in and how much is just talk.
Think about it!
Well said Pastor! Now there's an area of ministry in the church! Widows ministering to others, & others to the widows! More often than not, there will be "words of wisdom" from a widow who is long in the faith. As you said, Titus 2 shows that the older women (includes widows) should teach the younger women in the ways of the Lord, and when this is neglected...the church suffers!
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