CALL TO CARE

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

God's Heart for the Fatherless and His Commands

Since the fall of man and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, there has been much distress in this world. Those most unfortunate, those most unable to care for themselves because of this have been the orphans, children without parents, without guardians. From the very beginning, God has had much to say about their welfare.

"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless." Exodus 22:22-24 "

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10:18

"Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this." Deuteronomy 24:17-18

The Lord Himself watches over them; a portion of the tithes that were given in accordance to Mosaic law were reserved for the widows and orphans as He commanded. They were indeed the most helpless, most in need of protection in this ancient society.

Our Own Adoption and Our Own Hearts

But it goes beyond only that. In Deuteronomy 24, God commands this because He Himself redeemed the enslaved nation of Israel, when they were virtual orphans and aliens in a land that cared nothing for them. As He showed His love to them as a people, then they as a liberated nation should love those who had nothing and give them a place within their tents.

And now, for those of us who are New Testament believers, those who have been rescued from slavery to sin, from a cruel master that cares nothing for us and instead are now heirs to the Kingdom of God--we who have been adopted into God's family, what more magnificent way is there to demonstrate His love for us than by caring for orphans?

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