Widows and Orphans - 11/7/11

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday (around the United States), so I thought it would be appropriate to have a discussion about our responsibility as the church in regard to widows and orphans.

James 1:26-27 says, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I see three very basic things rising up out of this passage. The first is that anyone who first considers themselves religious is just fooling themselves. Speaking out about your religion, but having not actions to back up your words, proves just how shallow you truly are. If you desire to have a deep sense of "religion," then look out for others in greater need than yourself, and ensure that you are following biblical principles.

Secondly, James warns us to look out for the orphans and widows in distress. Do we even know who those people are? That seems to be the question running through my head. How do I find them? Well, in order to know who those are in distress, I have to first have a relationship with them. Some people are so secretive about their issues, that they don't want anyone to know. You may have people in distress, right under your nose, but wouldn't know what is causing that distress, because you haven't been paying attention.

And lastly, keep yourself from being polluted by the world. I don't think that this overshadows our attention to others, but rather it coincides with it. Helping others is a part of how we keep ourselves from being polluted. We can't have more concern for others than for ourselves, but it also works the other way. There is a constant pull between what we feel for ourselves, and how we respond to others, and that balance that we find is what comes from being filled with the Spirit of God.

I say these things, almost more to myself than to you, because I know just how hard it is for me to remain faithful to the call of God upon my own life. I hope that this week, you are able to seek out those in distress and pray for them. Bring them comfort. Help meet their physical needs. They are truly all around us, we just have to look.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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