Get'er Done
James 1:17-27
The Epistle of James is traditionally connected to James the brother of Jesus. He was a leader in the Jerusalem church. He addresses this letter to the diaspora of the church, the congregations that are situated in the Mediterranean bowl. It not really concerned with doctrinal matters. Instead, the focus of the letter is practical wisdom offered for the church community as they work to live together and follow Jesus Christ. The writer includes as well some prophecy, but not prophecy as prediction of the future. Instead, the prophecy is like that of the Old Testament prophets; it is prophecy that is a critique of the society and how the followers of Jesus live in the Roman society. This challenge remains with the church through every generation.
James makes two key points at the beginning and the end of our reading today. He begins with the emphasis that every gift comes from God. This point is where we begin and it gives us our purpose as followers of Jesus - the gift that God gives first is love and that gift should drive our purpose always. We love because God first loved us. The second emphasis that the writer makes at the end of our reading is that the faithful church’s mission is to care for the orphans and the widows. It is direction to care for the most vulnerable in our society. That care begins with the gift of God’s love.
The challenge before us is can we be not just hearers of the word but also doers of the world. James invites us to look into the mirror and do a self-assessment. If we can honestly do this self-assessment, then we are likely to see some things in the mirror that we don’t like. Then the question is before us, what will we do about it? Will we change and become doers of the word? Or, will we be only hearers of the word? James is always direct and cuts to the heart of the matter quickly.
Reflection Questions:
How can you participate in caring for the least among us?
The idea that the “church” and the “world” are distinct has gone in and out of fashion over the past two millennia; how does this distinction work for you? If the church is the people of God, then where is the church Monday through Saturday? What is it doing? And where?
What are ways that you can look in the mirror and do a self-assessment? What do you see that you like? What do you see that you would like to change?