Widows

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
WIDOWS
1 Tim 5:3-5
3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
NIV
I think somehow this may well have gone by the wayside in many cases. It has become blurred as to who is actually a widow really in need and who isn’t. In either case I do believe I should give proper recognition to those windows that are in need, but how do I know who they are and what is their need? I know some widows are extremely well off in their holdings since their husbands left them a large life insurance package as well as many investments. What need do these widows have they cannot buy or pay for themselves? Then there are those widows who are surrounded by children and grandchildren. How do I know if those family members are meeting all their needs? I am aware of some widows who would certainly appear for all practical purposes to be in one of those two or both situations and still call on members of the church for free assistance. In these cases do I have a responsibility to call all to the attention of these instructions? I think all too often much of the instructions of scripture are not put into practice. I sure forget at times to do all I am to do and to not do all I am not to do, so who am I to judge what others engage or not engage in? Yet as I go through sections of the word as this I am reminded of what is actually happening within the church I am aware of and it makes me wonder or ponder on if I am doing what I should be. But back to the question of which widow is really in need. Now I am aware of some widows who actually are well within the structure of these instructions having loving children who care for them and show no signs of being in need. But as far as those who are in need, I also have to wonder if this just applies to actual widows or does it also include older widow who are divorced and never remarried? What category do these women fall into? In either case there has to be some transparency by these women, having honesty and integrity as to their actually being in real need and not able to pay for services by professionals or having family members who have completely rejected scripture and refuse to care for them. If they hide either or both of these conditions, I am not sure what obligation I have to them. I surely would continue to give recognition to them as being alone and without a husband. That in itself is painful enough to have to live with. To not have a spouse to share the joys and sorrows of life together, to not have the intimate experiences of a loving embrace has to leave a sense of loneliness no one can fill. For these reasons I feel certain sadness for them, especially when I hear their stories about the troubles they have with children and I see the heartaches they experience. But as far as being in need, I just do not know. Yet I will love them as sisters in the Lord and I will be open to helping when I am needed.