Hold That Thought

Hold That Thought

James 1: ²⁶ Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself. ²⁷ What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

 

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Staying awake one night, I thought of ways to argue over scripture. I had taken classes at a locally famous bible institute and wanted to show what “I” knew. We went back and forth over who was “right.” Looking back on the argument, I cannot even remember the conclusion.

 

• Our argument had no “winner.”
• No one was helped, yet I spent a lot of time getting my argument ready.
• Being legally right was my goal.

 

James attempted to address a huge issue, namely religious arrogance. Religious arguments were probably the cause of people trying to out-say one another or to look good in front of each other. He then gives alternatives that were hard to address, but much needed.

 

My Observations:

• Looking good in front of people can lead to my downfall with GOD.
• Spending time sounding religious without actions is worthless to GOD.
• Taking care of orphans and widows in their suffering is pleasing to GOD.

 

Thinking of ways to look good by spouting out scripture or quoting some famous person can sometimes show my insecurity. I mean, I am basically saying, “Don’t look at me, but listen to me as I say someone else’s words.” This habit can eventually become worthless. BUT GOD has another way.

 

Serve suffering people. James gives some examples, but they are not the only list. Serving family, friends and neighbors who are suffering would also please GOD. But it does not mean I should not seek orphans and widows who need help. GOD sees the heart and looking good in front of HIM is what is important. I am glad HE gives me plenty to “do.”

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer use the question “Do any of you think you are religious?”
• Be honest, have you ever felt you were superior to someone by what you say?
• Will you seek looking good in front of GOD, even when humans may not give you credit, by doing what HE wants you to do and serve who HE wants you to serve today?

Acting Removed

Luke5: ²⁷ After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” ²⁸ So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.

²⁹ Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. ³⁰ And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

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Jumping in my luxury car, I sped off to my office. Mulling through the projects of the day, I finally organized what I was going to accomplish. I attended numerous meetings, filled out reports and then went home to do this again and again. I never once noticed the people I passed on the street.

• There were times when work was the focus.
• There were times when most of my thoughts were on the job.
• There were times when I placed a large amount of esteem in my career.

The scribes and Pharisees had the “job” of telling people about GOD and they did it with a judgmental attitude. “Why do YOU eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” was their question to JESUS. They thought they were so far removed from their sins that they no longer considered themselves sinners.

• JESUS wants me to seek the lost.
• JESUS wants me to fill up some of my time for HIM.
• JESUS wants me to think of HIS kingdom each and every day.

Being far removed from poor, hurt and overtly sinful people doesn’t make me a better follower of GOD. In fact, the more removed I am from the more highly I think of myself. After a while I speak in “those people” terms instead of saying “us people.”

Being busy is also an exclusionary tactic. If I do not purposefully stop and look for the poor, lost and the hurt I can easily forget that I am one of them. JESUS wants me to be part of the crowd that seeks HIM in need of a Savior. I am sick and need GOD daily.

• Do you think you are better than someone?
• When is the last time you personally went out and sought after the sick, poor and lost?
• Can you plan on spending some of your time speaking on behalf of GOD in an inclusive way?