Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is to visit widows and the fatherless in their trouble. The day-to-day difficulties of widows and the fatherless often go unnoticed as prayer requests, so we must keep our eyes open for their needs without prying. Are the single mom and her children always struggling financially? Is the widow battling loneliness? We can include them in our dinner or outing plans at the Feast of Tabernacles. Encouragement through a call or note can show awareness of their needs and availability to help, whether through a small monetary gift if feasible or by sending a card or email to uplift them. Physically helping widows and single mothers, such as assisting with moving or other tasks, is a tangible way to serve, even if the church is now scattered. The apostle Paul instructs in I Timothy 5:3-8 to show respect for widows who are truly alone, emphasizing that their families, especially children and grandchildren, bear the primary responsibility to care for them, as this pleases God. If the family cannot or will not provide care, then the church, including each of us individually, must step in to support them. Obeying God by looking out for one another, especially the widows and fatherless, embodies 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.

God places great importance on the treatment of the weakest among us, commanding through the prophet Jeremiah to stop exploiting widows, orphans, and foreigners. This directive is among the foremost factors that shape our relationship with Him. Similarly, through the prophet Isaiah, God instructs us to learn to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow. These actions are central to correcting our ways, as God distills the essence of His laws into helping those in need, emphasizing the care for widows and the fatherless as a fundamental expression of obedience to Him.

The apostle James emphasizes a balanced Christian life, highlighting the importance of caring for the widows and the fatherless as a core aspect of pure religion. In James 1:27, he instructs that true worship, free from worldly corruption, involves visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, reflecting sincere service to both God and man. This call to action is not new but echoes the essence of the law as presented by Moses in Deuteronomy 10:16-19, where God's people are urged to circumcise their hearts, abandon stubbornness, and show compassion to the fatherless, widows, and strangers, following the example of a mighty and impartial God. This same principle is reinforced in Jeremiah 7:6, where God, through His prophet, commands His people to stop oppressing foreigners, orphans, and widows, placing this duty ahead of other grave sins like murder. Similarly, Isaiah 1:17 urges the correction of wrongs by helping the oppressed, defending the fatherless, and pleading the cause of the widow, encapsulating the practical outworking of God's laws in human interactions. God Himself protects the weak, showing special concern for the rights of widows and the fatherless, ensuring they are not overlooked. The responsibility to care for widows extends to the church and individual believers, as outlined by the apostle Paul in I Timothy 5, where the primary duty falls to family members, with the church stepping in to supplement when needed. Each believer is called to share in this duty, reflecting the collective role of the church in supporting the vulnerable. This consistent message across scripture—from Moses to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and James—underscores that pure religion involves both obedience to God and active care for one another, especially the widows and the fatherless, as a fundamental expression of faith through works.