1 Timothy 5:16

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16 If any [ei tis] man [pistos] or [e] woman that believeth [pistos] have [echo] widows, [chera] let them relieve [eparkeo] them, [autos] and [kai] let [bareo] not [me] the church [ekklesia] be charged; [bareo] that [hina] it may relieve [eparkeo] them that are widows [chera] indeed. [ontos] KJV-Interlinear

16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. NASB

Young widows, who are without any means of support, are to be cared for, until they are able to remarry, or otherwise re-establish some means of self support.

Older widows are presumed to be mature, beyond remarrying, and therefore may find a place in the church in some capacity.

Therefore, Paul now comes full circle with regard to the care and maintenance of those who are in desperate need.

In verse four, the children and grandchildren are first in line for being responsible for the care of widows.

In verse ten, the church must fill in the gap if there are no family members available to care for them.

And now, in our current verse, the responsibility for care and support, falls on extended adult family members, either male or female, in whose family a woman becomes a widow.

This is a mere sequence of responsibility to the church, and Christians in general, so that anyone who falls on extreme hard times, and has no resources for supporting themselves, can not be left out in the cold so to speak, and will have some semblance of a life with stability.

No one has the right to stand by and knowingly allow someone within their own family, fall into desperate straits.

If there is no family member, then the organized church or charity must be available in order to fill in the gap when there is no other means of support available.

The young widow is the example of one who is young, immature, and whose life has been thrown into total chaos because of the loss of her husband, leaving her with nothing.

In other verses in the Bible, young orphans are the example of people in desperate situations, and unable to care for themselves.

To step forward and accept this responsibility is fulfillment of a responsibility, and blessing follows.

Deut 14:29

29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. NASB

To ignore or resent or knowingly reject this responsibility brings a curse (withheld blessing), on those who are responsible.

Deut 27:19

19 'Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.' NASB.

In any and every case, women are viewed as the weak members of society, when widowed, they are potentially the ones in the most desperate situation. They are to never be turned out, or denied, or have barriers put up that would prevent them having any opportunity for re-establishing their life.

In this respect, as in many other examples, Christianity is to take care of its own, as well as others.

Most other religions have a tendency to throw the helpless out onto the street to fend for themselves, and even go so far as to throw up barriers to prevent them from getting help.

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