You may have heard or even asked this question: "Is it my responsibility to help the widows and orphans?" The notion of individual responsibility to help others in distress can be a tricky subject, especially when scriptural commands get intertwined with cultural concepts of charity. Let's examine the issues step by step.

Biblical Teachings on Helping Widows and Orphans

In the Bible, there are multiple commands and illustrations that involve caring for the vulnerable populations of widows and orphans. The Old Testament has examples in Deuteronomy 14:29, Isaiah 1:17, James 1:27, and others. In the New Testament, James 1:27 (quoting the same text from Isaiah) connects pure and undefiled religion directly to helping "the fatherless and widows in their affliction."

Christ Jesus Himself demonstrates care for the distressed in John 8, when He protects a woman from being stoned to death, as well as in Matthew 14, when He feeds the five thousand, with many orphans and widows likely in their number. These examples show that the practice of caring for the weak was aligned with God's will long before Christianity.

Scripture presents the r esponsibility for care as a communal one, not always an individual one. Widows and orphans were recipients of government-organized relief in the Jewish social welfare system (see Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 24:19-22). The New Testament Church also shared resources through the apostles to meet the needs of its members.

Caring Versus Saving

It is also essential to differentiate between saving the world from sin and social, economic, and political evils (salvation work given by Christ Jesus) and compassionate acts of kindness, help, and charity. While all of Jesus’ followers are called to follow His example of love and charity, they are not all called to the same types of service. Some callings may lean more to evangelism while others may focus more on community work.

While Christians can't escape a general responsibility to relieve the suffering of the vulnerable (Jeremiah 22:3; Proverbs 31:8-9), it doesn't necessarily make them solely responsible for doing so. Countries and governments are also responsible for taking care of their citizens, including the defenseless, using their resources (Proverbs 14:31, 31; Titus 3:1).

This separation is important because it can help to keep us from overemphasizing personal duty (even guilt-tripping ourselves) when we should focus on the role each individual and institution plays in society. A fairer distribution of societal responsibilities is part of good governance and reflects biblical principles.

Avoiding Extremes

On the other hand, it's worth reminding ourselves of the old adage that "absolute power corrupts absolutely." This principle can apply to humanitarian-minded ideologies just as much as any other power structure. Insisting that each individual must save the day individually and single-handedly can lead to a world where personal heroism is valued above solidarity, common efforts, or democratic processes.

Similarly, prioritizing group responsibility over individual motivations can stifle the very genuine inspirations and empathies that led to charitable actions in the first place, and it may make those who do step forward feel guilty or inadequate.

The Bible encourages communities to take care of the widows and orphans, but it does not demand that each person commit to some lifetime quota of care. Rather, the Christian message should cultivate a life driven by love — a spirit that, quite naturally, leads individuals to share in the burden for those in need.

It is both individual and collective, public, private, and communal responses that are necessary to fulfill the biblical injunctions. Taken together, this can be a powerful force that benefits all.

Article Summary X The Bible emphasizes the importance of caring for widows and orphans as part of a social ethic. However, the primary responsibility falls more on the community or government than just individuals. Both personal and institutional support are called for in line with biblical teachings. Avoiding the extremes of personal responsibility or passivity can ensure that love for others remains a guiding principle, rather than becoming an unattainable ideal or overly oppressive requirement.

Helpful Resources

  • Helping Widows and Orphans: The Issue of Individual and Collective Responsibility (Kevin Laye, Unbound)
  • Is It Our Responsibility To Help The Widows And Orphans? (Bruce B. Hartford, Christianity Today)
  • Am I Actually Responsible to Care for the Needy? (Evan Rolfe, Relevant)

Photo Credit: ©pixabay.com

Alex Awiti: The author has a Mastre's Degree in Communication, Religion, and Society from Africa International University, Kenya, with a deep interest in religious studies, particularly in the context of cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue. Apart from being an instructor of communications, he writes articles on Christianity, Interfaith Relations, and Culture both academically and popularly. His work has appeared in various magazines, blogs, and academic journals, cutting across continental Europe, North America, and Africa. He lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Instagram / Twitter: @AlexAwiti1. Facebook: @Aless Awiti - Public Figure. Linkedin: Alexander Awiti. Personal website: alexawiti.com. Blogs: Patheos - Musings on Natural Piety & Huffpost - Deep Calls to Deep.

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