His Comments

As I read this verse and a few commentaries, I came across the following that I found insightful: Pure and lasting religion is not perfect observance of rules and observances; instead, it is a spirit that pervades our hearts and lives. I found the quote went well with this month’s topic, caring for the elderly and those who may need companionship. James, in his writings, explains that our faith will be seen in our daily life. Orphans and widows, with the elderly also falling into this grouping, often fall into the “poor” class in first-century Israel. Paul, in the writings of 1 Timothy, addresses the care for widows within the church. Widows and the elderly often rely on their family to offer support, but in many cases, that support is nonexistent. That would reduce their options to begging, selling themselves into slavery, or starving. Fast forward to today, we as Christians, i.e. the Church, should step in and help these three groups when their families do not. Remember, when we are in Christ, we are adopted sons and daughters, making us all one family.

What exactly does that look like in 2026?

As believers who are one body in Christ, we need to remember the importance of communication and community. We should not be like the cat who attacks its own tail, who looks at it moving back and forth as if it has a mind of its own, separate from the body who gives it life. We need to strive to be one body with one goal, to serve God. If we, as a people and as a church, were to cut off those who are in need, what would that say about the church to those outside of it?

As I prepare for Lenten service, this subject ties nicely into the topic of “I AM the Vine.” Christ is Lord and we are His workmanship. It is the Father who is the vinedresser, He trims the branches that do not bear fruit. When we do not care for those within the church that are unable to care for themselves, we are inadvertently playing God, attempting to separate the branches from the vine. Christ is the vine that gives life, and when we cut off the least of us, we are attempting to be the vinedresser, trimming the branches that are not bearing fruit. It is important to remember; we are all the branches. We have life because of the vine, and it is for us to produce fruit, not to be the vinedresser. Only God sees how everything ties together, and each of us may be producing fruit that the other person does not know of.

Now, what significance does that have for us? I am not much of a gardener, and if you are like me, you may not normally relate vines and fruit to your day-to-day life. We have a responsibility to aid one another and not be complacent. Do not be lazy with the blessings that God has given you, and in doing so, fail to bless others through asking how they are doing, reaching out to the lonely, visiting the shut-in, etc. Do not turn a blind eye to those in need within your congregation. Do not feign ignorance, saying “I knew she lost her husband months ago, but I did not realize she was in need.” Do not say, “I have been meaning to stop and visit the elderly, but there is only 24 hours in a day.” We all have the same number of hours in the day, so prioritize what God deems important, and not what the world deems important. Live for God, not the world.

Lastly, do not assume others are doing it. When we assume others are helping, it often leads to no one helping. Remember what James tells us later in his book, John 4:17, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” When Proverbs 10:4 tells us, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich,” not only is that wisdom for worldly progression, but it also serves as a reminder not to waste all our time and blessings on what is temporary when we should focus on what is eternal. We love because He first loved us. Go forth and be the salt and light of the world.