James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Those who hear the Gospel Message of “the perfect law of liberty” and do not forget it and continue in it without compromise are highly “blessed” in their “deed”; that is, highly “blessed” in doing the “deed” “of the work” of obedience to the Lord. James gives us illustrations of what this “work” looks like. He tells us, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26); that is, a person might talk about how “religious” they are and go through the motions of “religion”; but, if that person does not control their “tongue”, their “religion is vain”, empty or worthless. A person that controls their “tongue” does not speak ill of others, does not spread rumors, is not contentious, and does not distort or neglect the Word of God. In contrast to a “vain” “religion”, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27). “To visit the fatherless and widows” is to actually go to where they are, to pray with them, to assist them as much as possible, and to find out how they can be assisted and encouraged, and then to inform the Church of their needs. To “keep himself unspotted from the world” is to reject the devil’s enticements to participate in immoral and unseemly behaviors. This is essential behavior for all “born again” (John 3:1-8) Children of God, especially those who are members of the Lord’s Church, not just for Pastors and Deacons. Summarily, faithful Children of God are to “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father” is honoring to God and is a blessing to the whole Church!