Put your money where your mouth is!

Jane Denniston December 15, 2023 4 3

Playlists

Add to Favourites

Save for later

Listen to this daily worship

James 1: 26-27 (NRSVA)

26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I think this is one of the most challenging passages in Scripture. It effectively tells us that none of us are free from hypocrisy because our actions will never completely match up to our words. We are all imperfect and deceive ourselves to some extent. To quote Robert Burns: ‘O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!’ We may think that we are living a good life, and living according to God’s purposes, but it’s almost impossible to know how much of Christ is actually shining through and how much we are obscuring his image in us.

But that does not mean that we should give it up as a hopeless task. We may only ever strive after perfection, never reaching it this side of eternity, but the very act of trying, of opening ourselves up to God’s grace, is in itself an action that will speak louder than words.

I love that saying attributed to St Francis of Assisi: ‘Preach the gospel at all times – use words when necessary.’ Although we are saved by grace, and not by works, it is our works which will convince others of the truth of Christ in us. The bridges we build by our actions in caring for others may sometimes feel as though they are made of straw – weak and fragile – but every straw strengthens the others until we have a structure that is strong and fit for purpose.

Prayer:

Forgiving God,

you care more that we try

than that we succeed.

Our maker’s instructions are unmistakable:

the religion you want

is care for the poor and marginalised

and words that are not empty.

Yet, even when we fail,

you continue to love and accept us.

Help us to feel inspired by that love

to even greater love-in-action,

that your love, in us, may shine so

that no words are necessary, Amen