God cares intensely for widows, orphans, and the poor. The Bible brims with teachings about caring for the needy, especially widows and orphans - those who are weakest, most vulnerable, and most exposed. As the apostle James said, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27).

Elisha demonstrated God's deep compassion for a desperate widow and her two sons. Without a husband, she had no income or protection, and she was frantically trying to save her two boys from a life of slavery. "What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. The answer lay in a lone flask of olive oil and an act of faith, and God provided a stunning miracle on behalf of one lone widow, whom He deeply loved.

How can that passion for the needy translate into your marriage and family? How can you align your heart with God's and make your marriage more missional? Brainstorm creative ways to practice an attitude of service beyond the family. Once a month you may wish to plan a service project that the family can do together. This not only allows you to practice serving others, but it also gives you a shared experience. A friend is moving, so your family offers to help clean the house after the moving van is gone. A homebound person needs a visit, so your family goes and invests an hour reminiscing and perhaps laughing together. You learn of a financial need in the life of a friend, and your family discusses the need and agrees to give a certain amount of money as an act of service. A widow needs her gutters cleaned, her yard mowed, or her house painted. Your family agrees that you have the time and ability to serve, and together you meet this need. You not only meet a deep need, but you also forge a deeper bond together as you reflect God's heart for the needy.

Take time to pray asking God to transform your marriage into a missional one.

Discuss and reflect on these questions:

1. What deep needs are you aware of in your circle of influence - widows, orphans, or the poor?
2. How can you demonstrate the "pure and genuine religion" described in James 1:27?

Consider these passages for further study on service:

Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

I Peter 4:8-11

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

⁹ Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

¹⁰ As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

¹¹ If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Kings 4:1-7

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor comes to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

² And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.

³ Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

⁴ And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

⁵ So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

⁶ And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

⁷ Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

I personally love this story Gary Chapman shares to put together the overflowing abundance that we can create around us. Be creative and you can do this today by just working together with others.