5. Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help.
6. But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.
7. Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.
8. But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
9. A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.
10. She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?
11. The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.
12. Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.