PCC Scroll: Women of the Bible - Tabitha

Name: Dorcas, also called Tabitha

Meaning: Gazelle

Work: Made clothes for the needy widows and children of Joppa

Character: A giving woman

Sorrow: She died

Triumph: Peter raised her from the dead

Scripture Reference: Acts 9:36-43

With the theme of sacrifice prevalent in this quarter’s newsletter, Dorcas is a great woman to profile. Dorcas sacrificed her time, energy, and resources to help the widows and poor of Joppa. In this aspect, she exemplifies James 1:27, which says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

In the opening of her story, the Bible describes her as a disciple. Her reputation was that of someone who did good and helped the poor. In her story, Dorcas became sick and died. Her community was distraught. She was so important and loved that her community sent men to Lydda, which was twelve miles away, to find Peter who was ministering there. When Peter came, weeping widows showed him the robes and clothing Dorcas had made for others. Peter sent everyone out of the room, got on his knees and prayed, and commanded her to get up. Many heard of the miracle of her being raised from the dead and believed.

Dorcas’ unselfish work earned her the love of her community. We must remember that widows had no way of making a living during those times. In her service, she provided a basic necessity to them. It was her love for God that compelled her to show love to her fellow man. Dorcas is a model we can use as we serve our communities to demonstrate the love of Christ. She demonstrated charity, which the Bible defines as love. Since 1834, churches have formed “Dorcas Societies,” which focus on humanitarian work through activities such as clothing the poor. This is a fitting tribute to a woman who used her sphere of influence to serve God.

If we each followed Dorcas’ model and ministered to the poor, widow, sick, oppressed, underrepresented, etc., it would be a marvelous display of God’s love. The only sacrifice it would take is our time and resources. In her, we see an example of a woman who illustrated the Word of God with action. I know I have a lot of ideas of what I could do to help, but here is a woman who backed her thoughts and talk with action. The part of Dorcas’ story that stands out to me the most is the time she sacrificed to help those in need.

Today, we are experiencing financial uncertainty. Many people are losing their jobs and homes. I am sure we all know someone who is impacted. It is the perfect opportunity to sacrifice of our time and resources by giving to charity, which is what Dorcas did. In this move, the Word in us becomes alive and dwells among those who are hurt, marginalized, and underrepresented.