True Religion

People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing. Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence. – James 1:26-27 (NCV)

 

Have you encountered people who think they are religious but are fooling themselves?  Are you someone who is fooling yourself?  Who needs help and how can you help them?  Why must you be careful of the world’s evil influence?  How will you act to ensure that God accepts your religion?

 

The following story was found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=142

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. 

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.  The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.
 "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.



"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn."



He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.



So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.



The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn.

 

Some are so afraid of the world’s evil influence they forget they have the solution to evil, God’s hope and joy as found in Jesus Christ!   You will say the right thing and have a religion that God will accept when you give your seeds of joy and happiness to your neighbors.  Good is more influential than evil, go do good!

With hope and joy,

Garrett