I recently was blessed with the opportunity to go around the town in which I live and meet some of the widows of the congregation that I recently began working with. (By, the way, if it has been awhile since you have made a visitation trip like this, I encourage you to go today!) one of the men here in this congregation was nice enough to drive me to a few different houses, to help me get acquainted with where people lived. Things were going good almost “routine” and then I entered another house, and I left feeling as though I needed that visit more than she did.

I will not mention her real name, so we will just call her Ruth. Ruth not only is a widow, but she is also raising 2 great-grandchildren on her own. To top it all off she struggles with all kinds of physical ailments that forces her to be in a wheel chair. Ruth began to talk to me about how much she enjoys listening to my sermons, as I thanked her, I tried shifting the focus on her life. I asked “How are things going for you in your life?” and she began to talk about the spiritual well-being (or lack of) her great grandchildren. She talked about how so many times they will tell her that they will come worship with her, and they always refuse when Sunday’s come around. As the tears began to well up in her eyes, she said “I, just want them to know God. I try my best to be an example for them, but my spirit is willing and my flesh is so weak.” Holding back a few tears of my own, I told her that I would definitely keep them in my prayers, and look for opportunities to reach her great grandchildren. We held hands, and prayed together. As I was about to leave, I looked back at Ruth, and I told her “I want you to know that if you ever need anything, be sure to give me a call. I truly respect you for what you are doing.” And she looked right back at me and stated “Troy, I don’t need respect, I need help.”

Those words have stuck with me. How many times has someone paid “lip-service” to this widow’s situation, but never stopped their busy lives to lend what she really needs, help? How many times have I done this in my life, with many, many others?

If we were all more like Ruth we would be:

1. Very Polite, Hospitable, and encouraging:
2. More concerned about others than ourselves:
3. Concerned about eternal things.

I hope, and I pray that you will take the time to look around you, pay attention to someone who truly needs help, and reach out and HELP!

1Th 5:11 ESV  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Philippians 2:3 ESV  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Mat 6:19 ESV  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

Jas 2:16 ESV  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Jas 1:27 ESV  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

In Him,

Troy