27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
There is a good bit in these few verses. First James begins with using 2 words that are a contrast. Pure on the positive side which is: unmixed with anything else, and defiled (or impure) which is on the negative side. He is making the point that the belief system that we practice, that God is watching, should be pure without ulterior motive.
Remembering that during the time that James wrote these words, the most vulnerable people in society were the widows and orphans which had little means to do anything else other than beg on the street. If the church takes care of these in need, it is putting action on what God’s Word says. If we take care of others without any thought of reciprocation, we too are showing what it means to serve others.
How do we keep ourselves unstained by the world? And what is meant by the world? The world that values money, power, fame above all else is what we need to keep unstained by. And we do that by committing to the values and morals of Christ. Specifically in this verse by serving others without expecting anything in return. Giving generously.
In the midst of COVID-19, in some ways, it might be easier to give, but in other ways harder to get out to help. Consider each day, how you can give generously within our current environment and just do it!
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jas 1:27). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
