The man who was dying blessed me; I
made the widow's heart sing. (Job 29:13)
This is what Job said in one of his
discourses. A dying man blessing him and a widow's heart singing. Why? Only
because Job was a generous and kind man. He cared for the poor and for the
orphans and widows.
The Apostle James says,
"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)"
This then should be a part of our
Christian life. The poor, the orphans and the widows; they need more love and
care than those who are better off and in families.
Job said,
"I put on righteousness as my
clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet
to the lame. I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger.
(Job 29:14- 16)
Even in the Old Testament, some of
the laws given to the Israelites were to help the poor and needy:
When you are harvesting in your field and you
overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the
fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the
work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over
the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless
and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the
vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.
(Deuteronomy 24:19-21)
Love & Compassion, 2 great
virtues that Jesus himself had in abundance. He expects us also to follow in
the same vein. He said,
"You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it
under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone
in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may
see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
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