Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father involves caring for widows in their trouble. The day-to-day difficulties of widows often go unnoticed as prayer requests, so we must keep our eyes open for their needs, without prying, to discern if they are fighting loneliness or facing other challenges. We can include them in our dinner or outing plans, such as at the Feast of Tabernacles, to provide companionship. Encouragement through a call, note, or small monetary gift, if feasible and legitimate, can show we are aware of their needs and available to help. Physically helping widows, such as assisting with moves, as was done in earlier times in large church communities, remains a valuable service, though it is more challenging now with scattered congregations. The apostle Paul, in I Timothy 5:3-8, instructs the church to show respect for widows who are truly alone, with no family to support them, emphasizing that their hope is in God as they pray for His help night and day. He stresses that family members, especially children and grandchildren, bear the primary responsibility to care for widows, repaying their parents and grandparents as a duty that pleases God. If family cannot or will not provide care, the church, including each of us individually, must step in to assist, alongside any ministerial oversight of third-tithe assistance. Widows are a consistent presence in congregations, and caring for them reflects obedience to God and the essence of pure religion.

Our God has called and chosen us to serve Him and others with humility, being especially sensitive to the needs of those who are socially and economically limited, such as widows and the fatherless. We are to provide help when we see a genuine need among them, as they are often the weakest among us and in most cases unable to work. God sets the example, as David writes in Psalm 68:5, that He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows in His holy habitation. God Himself declares in Jeremiah 49:11 to leave the fatherless children to Him for preservation and to let widows trust in Him, showing His care for their rights and welfare. In Jeremiah 7:1-11, God speaks through His prophet, commanding the people of Judah to change their ways and stop taking advantage of orphans and widows, promising safety and a long life in their land if they reform. God's ordering of priorities places the care of widows and the fatherless near the top of the list of actions needed to return to a proper relationship with Him, emphasizing the importance of protecting and looking out for the weak among us.