Today’s Reading: James 1:26-2:7; Psalm 68
Today’s passage definitely requires that mirror we talked about yesterday. It is time for me to be honest and open with God – allowing His Spirit to speak to me as I read His word. I need to be willing to hear anything He might have to say to me this morning.
MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 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 1:26-27
That’s good news for those of us who volunteer or work for a pregnancy center ministry. That is what we do! Many of the women we serve have been abandoned by their own father and now the father of their baby. We reach out to help both mother and baby.
Churches are known for this as well. I know of many churches that have Embrace Grace groups for single moms or Grief Share groups for widows. We attended a church in Nashville recently that encourages families towards foster care and adoption. These believers are beautifully taking care of orphans and widows because that is what God has moved their hearts to do.
Over the last few years, there have been many deaths in the church where I grew up. A generous couple in the church decided they wanted to do something special for the growing number of widows in their congregation, so now these wonderful ladies are able to go out to eat together once a month. They have become a close knit group and enjoy their time together.
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. – Psalm 68:5-6a
Maybe you are thinking of the ways in which you reach out to orphans and widows in your community. That is good news for us then, right? But wait a second. Before we take too much pride in what God has called us to do or given us opportunity to do, there is more to this scripture.
MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…
James says that our religion is worthless if we cannot keep a tight rein on our tongue. Ouch! We don’t serve a God who is looking for more good works than sinful deeds. Our religion is not one where we just need to make sure the good outweighs the bad. We serve a God who is calling us to holiness – to a Spirit-filled life that guides both our actions and our words.
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor” – well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? – James 2:1-7
MY RELIGION IS WORTHLESS WHEN…
Humans have a tendency to treat people differently – preference, prejudice, favor, stereotyping, assumptions, racism. If someone possesses something we esteem, we are naturally drawn to them. That could be physical beauty, clothing, designer shoes or purses, athleticism, jewelry, talent, celebrity status, intelligence, money, or a dynamic personality. It is all favoritism and it is all sin, and my guess is we are all guilty.
Listen my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? – James 2:5
Over and over again, scripture shows that those who are poor by the world’s standards are more easily drawn toward God. Because they have less of this world’s treasures to hold on to, they tend to trust God with more of their life.
I don’t want my religion to be worthless. Lord, please fill me with your Spirit today. Give me the strength to listen to your Spirit’s leading and hold back any words that are not pleasing to you. May my mouth be an instrument for you today and not a tool for the devil. Lord, bring the words of James to my mind today when I am faced with an opportunity to let the Spirit guide me. May I trust you with more and hang on to less! Amen.