The Bible is quite clear; for the Christian, we are to help those in need. We are to feed the hungry, to protect the weak, to care for the sick . . . And we are to “seek justice for the orphan, to defend the cause of the fatherless, and to encourage the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). In the book of James, James says that looking after orphans and widows in their distress is part of “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless.” (James 1:27). The book of Deuteronomy is filled with requirements to provide food for and to deal fairly with orphans and widows. (In biblical times, an orphan was considered any child who had lost his or her father. Because of this reason, orphans and widows are often mentioned together).

So why this specific charge to help orphans? Why would this be religion at it is purest . . . to protect and to provide for the fatherless?

When Jesus was about to leave his disciples, he promised them that he would come back to them, that he wouldn’t leave them here as orphans (John 14:18). He promised them that he would be with them to protect them and to guide them through the work of his Holy Spirit. He promised them that one day he would be back to bring all those who believe in Him home to the Father, to bring us home to our heavenly Father . . . and not to seek after the justice that we deserve in death "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23), but to display His greatest mercy towards us, to execute His greatest provision for us and to free us from our sinfulness, our greatest oppressor "But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).