A Profitable and Pure Religion—Part Two
“If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 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” (James 1:26-27).
In the final two verses of this chapter, the inspired penman describes three essential fruits of a profitable and pure religion. The second of these is helping hands.
Clear evidence of the perfect law of liberty being properly engrafted in your heart is a compassionate heart which prompts practical, helping hands.
To “visit” the two most needy classes in your society—the fatherless and widows—means to be in the ongoing practice of inspecting their present situation with the determination to help as needed.
Brotherly love necessitates helping hands (1 John 3:17-18). A living faith demands helping hands (James 2:14-17). A pure and undefiled religion requires helping hands.
