Caring for the fatherless, along with widows and strangers, is a vital expression of pure religion before God. We must keep our eyes open to the day-to-day difficulties faced by single mothers and their children, who may be struggling financially or otherwise. Are the single mom and her kids always running close to the edge? Can we include them in our dinner or outing plans at the Feast of Tabernacles? Prayer is a powerful tool; we can compile a personal list of people to pray for, bringing their problems before God to seek His help, guidance, and relief. 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, such as assisting with moves or daily tasks, is also crucial, as seen in past efforts to support single mothers in changing homes or apartments. Being alert to ongoing challenges, even after initial crises pass, ensures we continue to support the fatherless in their lingering needs. Opportunities to serve are abundant if we choose not to ignore them, reflecting our duty to live godly lives and care for those in need as God desires.

Our God has called us to serve Him and others with humility, being especially sensitive to the needs of the socially and economically limited: the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. We are to provide help when we see a genuine need among them. God stresses helping the fatherless, widows, and strangers because they are the weakest among us, often unable to work due to illness, infirmities, or other debilitating circumstances. David writes in Psalm 68:5 that God is a father of the fatherless and a defender of widows in His holy habitation. In Jeremiah 49:11, God declares that He will preserve the fatherless children alive and calls widows to trust in Him. Through Jeremiah, God commands His people to stop taking advantage of foreigners, orphans, and widows, placing their care near the top of the list of reforms needed to return to a proper relationship with Him. God's ordering of this priority emphasizes the importance of protecting and looking out for the weak among us.

The care of the fatherless, along with widows and strangers, is a vital aspect of living a life pleasing to God. James emphasizes this in his epistle, stating in James 1:27 that pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. This call to action reflects a deep concern for the weakest among us, urging special attention to their needs without seeking glory or praise, but as a sincere act of worship. Moses, in Deuteronomy 10:16-19, echoes this principle, instructing to circumcise the foreskin of the heart and to show compassion to the fatherless, widows, and strangers, following God's example. God Himself looks out for their rights, showing no partiality and calling us from all walks of life to serve Him by serving others. Similarly, Jeremiah 7:6 admonishes against taking advantage of orphans, widows, and foreigners, placing their care ahead of grave sins like murder, as a condition for God's protection and blessing. Isaiah 1:17 further reinforces this duty, calling us to help the oppressed, specifically the fatherless and widows, as a fundamental way to correct our ways and do right. This act of service is part of balancing obedience to God with practical care for others, encapsulating the essence of God's laws in our interactions with humanity. God's emphasis on protecting the weak, including the fatherless, highlights our responsibility to act with compassion, whether through prayer, encouragement, or physical help, ensuring we remain alert to their needs in our midst.

God places great importance on the care of the weakest among us, as seen in His commands through the prophets. In Jeremiah 7:6, He instructs the people of Judah to stop exploiting widows, orphans, and foreigners, highlighting this as a critical factor in maintaining a relationship with Him. Similarly, in Isaiah 1:17, God directs through the prophet Isaiah to learn to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the fatherless, and plead for the widow. This call to action emphasizes that caring for the fatherless and others in need is central to living righteously and fulfilling His expectations.