Focus Off the Self, onto Others, Part 1 (TMF:1954)

Thursday, October 06, 2022
Peace to Live By: Focus Off the Self, onto Others, Part 1 (TMF:1954) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Finally, in finishing chapter 1 of James here, he states: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Let’s not get caught up in focusing on specifically visiting orphans and widows in their affliction because most of us aren’t going to do that in our lives. We can focus on, though, what the greater picture is here. What is the first thing we can note here? Well, we can note that these people, the truly religious people, the good people, are people who are focused on what? Well, they are focused on others. The focus is off the self and on others. In this case, the focus is not only on others, but more precisely it is on others who have a great need. The kind of people James’ talks about here (the orphans and widows) are those who don’t have any families per se. The orphan’s parents have died, or the child has been put up for adaption. The widow’s husband has died, and may not have any children or siblings who can take care of her.