Actions, Not Words
ACTIONS, NOT WORDS
JAMES 1:19-27
How would you describe a religious person? Does it fit in with verses 26 and 27?
Most of us like to hear ourselves talking, and in any conversation enjoy getting our viewpoint across. And most of us like to be sure that our own interests are properly safeguarded. We all too easily become angry when we are thwarted. James reminds us that both attitudes can endanger our spiritual development. It is a much sounder policy to listen first. Christians should be slow both to speak and to become angry (1:19). They should make the effort to put away all evil decisively and to receive the word from God that brings salvation (1:21). In view of the way some have misinterpreted this letter, as though it were giving expression to a doctrine of salvation by works, it is good to notice this clear expression of the truth that salvation comes from “the implanted word,” not from anything people do.
But this does not mean that our way of life is unimportant. James is always ready to remind his readers of the importance of living out their faith. Now he uses the illustration of a man looking in a mirror, a casual glance which means very little. The man looks into the mirror and goes on his way forgetting even what it was he saw. Not in such a lighthearted way should a Christian face obligations. For that, perseverance in well-doing is needed.
To show us the kind of thing he has in mind, James turns attention to contrasting religions (1:26f.). What is not characterized by control of the tongue (see also 1:19) is “vain,” ie empty. There is nothing in it. Such a person is self-deceived. Real religion, by contrast, comes out in a person’s attitude to the defenseless. Orphans and widows were proverbial in the ancient world for poverty and defenselessness. They had no one to act as their protector and were easy prey for the unscrupulous. They normally found it very difficult to earn their living and had little redress if exploited. So it is a mark of a genuine religion to look out for such in their affliction and help them. They could make no return.