By Steve A. Hamilton

                 Have you ever wondered why we no longer find churches supporting widows?  I’ve been a Christian for over 30 years and I do not even know of one congregation that supports any of their widows.  Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 5 both sanction the financial support of widows and even give qualifications for the support of widows.  

In Acts 6:1-7, we find the situation where the early church appointed men to administer the financial support for widows.  Other than learning that seven men were appointed to this task, we gleam little information on the subject of church supported widows.  However, 1 Timothy 5:3-16 gives quite detailed information on this subject.

From that passage we learn the following:

1.      If the widow has children or grandchildren, they should provide for her financial needs (vs. 4).

2.      If the widow has family to provide for her needs but they refuse, they are worse then unbelievers having denied the faith (vs. 8).

3.      If the widow is desolate (i.e. without family to provide) she is really a widow (or widow indeed) who deserves our honor (vs. 3,5).

4.      Such a widow indeed must be over 60 years of age, having had one husband, well reported for good works, been a mother, been hospitable to others and caring for Christians, been known to relieve the afflicted, followed every good work (vs. 9-10) prays and trusts in God (vs.5).

Given such strict requirements for a widow to qualify for support from a church, I can understand why this is such a rare occurrence.  In the United States, we live in a rich society where health care is excellent.  Most widows have many family members who are likely to live a long life.  Not to mention our nation’s social security system provides a supplemental portion of every senior citizen’s income.

Nevertheless, there are a few other lessons we need to consider on this subject.  The most striking lesson to me is that God expects descendents to provide financially for their widow parents.  The Lord looks at it as repayment (1 Tim. 5:4).  Children owe their parents a great deal.  It is only right that a child provide for their parents in a time of need when the parents spent a lifetime providing for the child.

Notice that nothing is said about the children’s financial ability to provide for their parents.  Perhaps, that is because the responsibility to provide for one’s family makes it irrelevant.  Paul wrote, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”   This tells me that a Christian can nullify his salvation by neglecting to care for his parents.  Such neglect shows a lack of love for God (1 John 3:17).

Another lesson that stands out is how to determine whether financial support for a widow is necessary.  It first falls upon the descendents to support a widow.  Only if the widow has no descendents can churches provide for her needs and only if she meets all of the qualifications. The church is not the first option for financial relief.

The church is not meant to relieve every widow that comes along. “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows” (1 Tim. 5:16).  Just because a widow has financial needs, that does not justify using the Lord’s money to meet that need.  The church is directed to refuse supporting younger widows even if they are desolate (1 Tim. 5:11).  That sounds harsh but the Lord wants them to remarry (1 Tim. 5:14). 

The circumstances for a church in the United States to support a widow indeed are rare.   However, the lessons taught on this subject should not be ignored just because of its infrequent occurrence.  

Last modified: 05/02/08