How Religious Are You?

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. (James 1:27)

Sometimes we get a little confused and think that we should stay away from the downcast of society so we don’t become defiled. But God’s idea of undefiled religion is that we live as His extension on the earth and help those in need– otherwise we wouldn’t need salvation in our time of life but only in our time of death.

James is telling us that our worship to God includes not only seeking Him through His Word and fellowshipping with the Body of Christ, but extending ourselves beyond the church pew to assist those in need. We can get so filled up with self-focus that we forget about the provision God gave us to share with others. If you really want to grow in your walk with the Lord, keep your fellowship with the Body, but watch God move as you extend yourself at His direction to the hurting and helpless.

I’ve been to gatherings that are so focused on their building campaigns that they can’t help a widow in need of a few dollars or some assistance with yard work. This type of attitude cannot stop us from personally helping those God puts in our paths. Use discernment, but purposefully seek to help others. If we want to keep our youth from the entitlement mindset, perhaps this is the mindset we should instill in them – serve others and give of your provision! And this is done not with an attitude of superiority, but humility – it’s God who gave the bread to us that we could give it to someone else.

We can believe for miracles and believe for our children’s lives – so why not believe for a place to sow into the needy? God will open a door almost before you can bat an eye because this is His heart. What we’re missing when we neglect this is an opportunity to receive and give His love, an immense blessing of personal growth in the Lord, and perhaps the avenue for the miraculous that so many are yearning for.

When we give and help those in need, we’re not just giving bread for food; we’re extending the Bread of Life. The provision of food and finances is simply the means of getting the Bread of Life to a hurting person – whether they already know the Lord or not!

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” (Is 58:6-8)

Perhaps that breakthrough you’ve been waiting for is at the end of the hand that’s extended to help those in need!