Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in
God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in
pleasure is dead while she liveth.
A widow who is indeed a widow is desolate. She has no one and almost
nothing. She trusts in God and prays day and night for His provision. Sadly,
this is far more common that many Christians may realize. We tend to think, at
least in America, that such desolation and poverty is not a reality in this
country, but it is for a good number of widows. There may be two or three
widows in this condition within a ten mile radius of our home.
But the widow who spends her life in pleasures (entertainments,
self-centered activities) is dead while she lives. As we will see later on, it
is not wise for an unmarried woman to go around pursuing pleasure. This is not
to say that God wants her to be unhappy and unjoyful, but if pleasure and
entertainment are pursued after one has “retired,” life intevitably means very
very little. True life is not found as we try to get it, but when we lay our
lives down:
24 Then
said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his
life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if
he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give
in exchange for his soul? 27 For
the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then
he shall reward every man according to his works. 28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which
shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Matt
16:24-28 (KJV)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the
brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him,
how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not
love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1
John 3:16-18 (KJV)
1 Tim 5:5-6 (KJV)
