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Widow

" But that is a widow indeed and desolate, has put their hope in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day." (I Timothy 5:5)

There are times and situations in life that are little desabled and may even become reasons for complaints and lamentations. In reality it is our attitude that will determine whether these experiences of life will be a curse or a blessing.

The Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy presented in Chapter 5 as our needs and that of others can be transformed into a wonderful opportunity growth and ministry. In this chapter he describes what appears to be a social welfare system within the Christian Church 2000 years ago. This system has nothing to envy to the social care systems of developed countries today.

Paul says the following about this system:

"Let the widow be put on the list only if not less than sixty years, having been the wife of one husband." (I Timothy 5:9)

Scripture scholars do not agree yet on the nature of this "mysterious" list. If however a careful reading of verses 3 to 16 are some of the requirements to be on this list of people in need, including widows

• not take any chances or type of support or help from a family member
• be over 60 years
• of good report

When we hear the word "widow" come to mind thoughts that evoke sadness, loneliness, helplessness, poverty, uncertainty. On the financial side cases like Helen Walton, widow of the founder of Wal-Mart, seem to be one of the few exceptions. His fortune is estimated at $ 18. 4 billion dollars. Few widows have this joy. Most of them do not have the financial resources to survive and sitiación is precarious.

In verse 5 Paul has two wonderful features that have a bright and positive side of widowhood. This principles can be applied to any need to touch us face:

" But that is a widow indeed and desolate, has put their hope in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day."

The first of these two aspects are related to the person who faces a real need in this case of widowhood. Paul emphasizes: that really is a widow and was left alone. So the company has not some, that there is none to attend, that person depends on one hundred percent God. This person seeks in God his refuge, his company and its physical support, emotional and spiritual. God comes to fill all things. It is precisely the person who goes through a crisis that seeking God comes to have a solid experience that may not have learned otherwise. Those

as widows lose their partner by way of divorce, if they cling to God get to experience something that would otherwise not experiementarían. I'm not saying that we want to go through these experiences, but if we play, should not be seen as the end but the beginning of a wonderful experience in Jesus.

The second aspect has to do with the opportunity it provides to the church when people need such as widows, divorcees, single parents are in their midst. It is an opportunity to minister. James says:

"Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (1:27)

The needy have their hope in God. However, the church, the Body of Christ, which is called to fulfill their ministry to the needy. These should not be seen as a hindrance, but as an opportunity. So that the next time you go through a dark valley of life or see someone in need not complain to us or we find it a burden.

Let's see this as a wonderful opportunity to fully experience the wonderful grace of our Lord.