James 1:27 (NKJV) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
One of the greatest joys I have is to give to an orphanage and to help local widows. Why? Because I don’t have to wonder if my motives are pure.
They can’t repay me. They can’t give me some advantage. As for the orphans, they may never even know me. That’s why it is “pure and undefiled”… helping those for whom there is no hidden agenda for you; it’s only for their good and God’s glory. It’s also a picture of salvation: helping someone who cannot possibly help themselves which God did for us.
Want to do something good today? Want to do something heartwarming, true and pure? Want to invest in something that will repay in blessing both in this life and eternity?
Help some orphans have a life they could have never hoped for. Do something kind and helpful for a widow who has no one to depend on.
Think It Over: What about the last part of the verse, being “unspotted”? That is talking about keeping the dirt and stains of an evil world off of you. How can you do that? Well, that’s a much longer answer but one way is to engage in truly good works… like taking care of widows and orphans.