James 1:27

Taking care of orphans and widows (conduct) is a duty that lies close to the heart of God (cf. Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10). Yet many who professed to love Him neglected it (Psalms 68:5; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Mark 12:40). [Note: See Richard D. Patterson, "The Widow, the Orphan, and the Poor in the Old Testament and the Extra-Biblical Literature," Bibliotheca Sacra 130:519 (July-September 1973):223-34.] Likewise personal moral purity (character) is an excellent external indicator of godliness (cf. Acts 15:20; 1 Timothy 5:22).

"When we read James’s injunction to ’keep oneself unstained from the world’ (James 1:27), we tend to interpret that in strictly moral terms-as an injunction not to sin. But it also means to keep ourselves ’unstained’ from the world’s wrong ways of thinking, its faulty worldviews. We must learn how to identify and resist the false worldviews dominant at our moment in history." [Note: Nancy R. Pearcey, Total Truth, p. 121.]

James argued for reality. He did not want us to deceive ourselves into thinking that we are spiritual if our obedience to God is only superficial.

"Like Jesus, James sees worship not in terms of external law but as an expression of inner active goodness." [Note: Adamson, p. 85.]

"To summarize, James 1:22-27 insist that a person’s religion must consist of more than superficial acts. It is not enough to listen to the statement of spiritual truth (James 1:22-25), nor is it sufficient to engage in formal religious activity (James 1:26). The person whose religious experience is genuine will put spiritual truth into practice, and his life will be marked by love for others and holiness before God." [Note: Burdick, pp. 176-77.]

In this chapter James dealt with the practical problem of trials and temptations. He used this subject to remind his readers of some very basic truths that have implications in many other areas of practical Christian living. Some of these areas are consistent commitment to God and obedience to His Word. We will demonstrate behavior that is as genuinely religious as anything anyone can do when we respond to temptations to depart from God’s will appropriately. The appropriate response involves rejecting them and rejoicing in them because we believe God is using them to mature us for His glory.