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James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
The word for religion (Greek threskeia) as used here, refers to an outward form of the inner life in Christ. It is not a reference to the rituals, rites, and ceremonial trappings (Acts 26:5; Colossians 2:18 ). What is emphasised in James is the reality of what alone can be found in Christ (Colossians 2:17 ) worked out in Christlike deeds of compassion and purity, that is pleasing to God the Father.
Genuine Christlikeness will be shown in sincere ever readiness to give time, effort, and life necessities to the afflicted. Are you such a visitor to those in hardship? Are you constrained by Christ or by streetwise disinterest, and self-interest?
Our visitation, when undertaken for God, should be taken as an opportunity to exhibit His grace and benefits. Even when God gives attention to the earth He leaves rich blessings behind (Psalm 65:9-10 ). The point of James is that the godly also go on visitations of mercy to the orphans and widows. His people should not find it possible to withhold refreshment to the poor, parched, and withering.
Are you doing what God expects of you? Are the distressed blessed because you visit? Are you word cleansed, or world spotted in your motivation? (James 1:17 ).
Widows were deceived and plundered by some religious leaders during the ministry of Jesus. Regrettably their kind are still with us today. The description Jesus gave was intended to open the eyes of the unsuspecting, so that they would be able to see through the disguise, and not be taken advantage of by the pretenders. The same traits of false leaders are discernible in these modern times (Mark 12:38-40 ).
Watch out for these indicators:-
They seek persistently the praise of men. They abuse their privileges. They like using religion uniform to impress and beguile. They expect to be treated with reverential respect in public places. They insist on being addressed by flattering titles. They occupy seats reserved for dignitaries, loving the pre- eminence. They expect preferential treatment at banquets, for themselves, not for God whom they profess to serve. They exploit the generosity of people of limited means. They especially, greedily target vulnerable widows. They are skilled at requesting and receiving exorbitant offerings for themselves. They turn the widow's love for God and her dependence on God, to their own person, claiming to be God's voice to them. They unethically appropriate from widows more than they can afford, compelling them into parting with their property and inherited land. They use prayer as a cover up, and to promote themselves. They practice religious extortion for greedy gain, always implying to the deceived that they will benefit by giving to them.
Today, outrageous claims of enrichment are made to those who are being stripped of their living. Such men are under the condemnation of Jesus - their terrible hypocrisy will be dealt with at God's final judgment. Jesus said their condemnation would be greater. The terrible consequences for religious frauds and deceivers are in keeping with God's commitment to those among His people who are vulnerable.
It is important that the New Testament standards for leaders and overseers be emphasised in teaching throughout the Church. Removing lack of knowledge of moral qualifications the Lord has set, will protect innocent victims from financial abuse, and worse.
It is necessary for all believers to know that they are exhorted to test teachers, preachers and every ministry (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1 ). Those who labour in the Word, and live exemplary lives, are worthy of double honour (1 Timothy 5:17 ).
Widows should be encouraged by God's attitude towards those who would do them harm, but should co-operate by getting to know God's Word better, and walking in its light.
There were the unbelieving, the sceptics of Malachi's day who asked "Where is the God of judgment?" (Malachi 2:17 KJV ). They argued that prosperity was the sign of God's favour, the evil doers, not only got away with wicked breaking of God's law, they were rewarded with prosperity. Malachi countered with the question , "But who can endure the day of His coming?" (Malachi 3:2 KJV ).
The Lord will come in judgment - the same Lord Jesus who came a first time and made a new covenant with God and man (Malachi 3:1; Hebrews 8:6; 12:24; 13:20 ). His return will be in judgment, swift, and certain, including all classes of sinners (Malachi 3:5 ). Those who oppress the widows and fatherless will not escape His justice.
Often the oppressed have failed to get justice. By false witness they have been defrauded in the courts that profess to administer justice. In the day of the Lord's judgment the Lord Himself will testify for the widow against those who have in evil wronged her (Malachi 3:5 ). Those who escaped sentence of guilt by lies of perjury in a high court, will answer to the all-seeing, all-knowing Judge. Justice for the oppressed will finally arrive.
The godly widow does not live for judgment on those who sin against her. She is content to leave justice in God's holy, powerful hands. She lives for her Lord, daily waiting for His return from heaven, with devoted anticipation.
Dr Campbell Morgan expressed His own attitude on waiting for the Lord to return:
That advent is the next event in the history of the world. Do you think it is near? I have no such words in my vocabulary concerning the methods of God as near and far. The moment you introduce an almanac or a calendar into this matter you wrong its spirit, you wrong its intention. Suppose that you could prove to me for an absolute certainty that the second advent is to take place according to the calendars of men one year from now, I would beseech of you not to tell me, because I do not want the coming of my Lord put twelve months away. I am expecting Him now, as He has commanded me. Oh, the light that breaks upon the sky when a man sees this. You ask, are you not disappointed because He doesn't come? No, I am glad. Why? Because He does not, and He knows best. Glad if He would come, glad if He delays; that is the true attitude towards the Lord's coming. G. Campbell Morgan The Minor Prophets - Page 156 - Pickering and Inglis
Do you face every reversal, challenge, loss, hurt, disappointment, with the anticipation that He could come today? Is waiting, for you, an opportunity to be occupied doing His business? Waiting for His coming is not sitting out time, its going out time, to a needy world, with His message and love.
His justice will deal with those who oppose and oppress; His testimony will be absolute, but to His own, even this will be His Word kept, and His love constant.
