James 1:26 Meaningless conversation is often disguised in religious eloquence. Just because it sounds sincere, doesn’t make it true. If your tongue is not bridled by what your heart knows to be true about you, then you cheat yourself. The Mirror.
In 2007 I went on an event called Bushido and one of the passages I memorized was James 1:26-27. How many times as men, especially those of us who are married are so quick to minister outside of our home before we minister inside our home.
Our wives and our children are not our enemies.
Holy Spirit revealed to me that I was making my wife and my children widows and orphans in my own home. Holy Spirit showed me that I am always doing outside of my home …. Church, men’s group, serving on Quest, helping other people, but when it comes to my own family, they get the crumbs or they do not get anything from me at all. Maybe what they get is anger and resentment. Who knows?
Well, that did not sit well with me …… again.
Proverbs 27.17 As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another.
A couple of nights went by and I was sitting at the table and my wife was helping me with memorizing this passage. I told her what I just shared with you and I asked her “are you a widow in this home?” She looked at me and said without blinking an eye. Yes I am pretty much a widow. Then she said, “I never get the minister voice that I hear you speak to other men on the phone, I want you to talk to me that way and you never do. It was a sad day for me but a good day.
So basically to me what verse 26 means is if you don’t minister inside of your home then what you do outside of your home is worthless.
Verse 27 means minister to your family then you will be pure and unblemished in the sight of God and there will be not be a widow or any orphans in your home
All scripture is up for interpretation. This is just what Holy Spirit showed me that day. It may or may not apply to you and that’s OK.
James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart; this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).
27 External * religious worship [* religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
James 1.27 The purest and most uncompromising form of religious expression is found at its 1source. God is the Father of mankind. He inspires one to take a genuine interest in helping the fatherless and the widows in their plight and to make sure that one’s own life does not become blemished in the process. The Mirror
I originally posted a version of this many years ago 2011
A lot has changed since then I would like to think that I no longer have widows and orphans in my family. I really try to give them the same voice that Holy Spirit gives me. I can honestly say though I’m sure I fall short at times but back in 2007 and 2008 I fell short all the time
It’s so much easier to love your wife and your children, when you can look in the mirror and love yourself as much as Jesus loves you.
So here’s the big question.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Did you love well?
Matthew 6.6 