Have you ever received a carried-in dinner after surgery, free babysitting for a rare night out with your spouse, or a surprise gift of money that met an unspoken need? God brings these types of gifts into our lives to bless the giver and receiver.

It can be difficult to receive such blessings when we usually would rather be the giver. Yet, when we don’t permit someone to give, we steal a blessing. At the same time we are humbled in receiving such blessings.

An Unexpected Blessing
During our first year on the mission field we were humbled by such a sweet practical blessing. Our family was down to its last $10 before more funds would be deposited in our account at the end of the month, and the $10 was untouchable because we needed it for gas to pick up people for church. The family had only one roll of toilet paper left to last the week for a family of five. Two days later a package arrived that had been mailed by a dear lady in a supporting church a couple months earlier. Our family pact was to not open packages until the entire family was present.

When we opened it, we discovered the heavy box was filled cleaning supplies, treats for the children, and four rolls of bathroom tissue. God provided for a precious need. Later, when personally thanking that sweet lady, she said she put the toilet paper in to fill some available space in the package (without adding much weight). She was unaware she was being obedient in providing a need that God was sending us long before we needed it.

Receiving is at times can be difficult. But unless someone receives, God does not teach the blessings of giving.

Themes from Scripture
Themes in this passage are receiving, speaking, listening, and doing. We are to receive the good gifts from God (v. 17). Speaking out is cautioned; we are to be wise in what we say and how we say it (vv. 19 and 26). Listening is how we take in information, and doing is taking action (v. 22).

In our mission story, we see all these themes complete God’s purpose. We received such a practical blessing with the package. The sweet lady in Indiana listened to the Lord’s leading and acted upon it. Messages were exchanged of thanksgiving and blessing when both parties realized how one was used to give and the other to receive.

A church billboard posted this statement: “Coincidence is when God chooses not to make himself known.” It was no coincidence that the package met our needs, and it was no coincidence it was mailed at the perfect time to arrive on the right day, and it was no coincidence we waited to open it together. Had we not had that need that week and been trying to conserve, would we have known God’s hand was truly providing our every need?

In continuing these themes in verses 23-25, James talks about those who hear the Word but ignore what is said in contrast to those that hear and act upon it. James is talking to Christians. We are all to reflect Jesus Christ. When we look in the mirror, do we see the reflection of Jesus or our old selves?

Influenced or Influencing?
Recently at the dinner table a young guest was commenting on the reputations of Christians at restaurants. He said servers hate to work on Sundays, noting that Christians are known for being poor tippers and very rude. Though I had heard this before, it struck me again. As Christians, we attend Sunday school faithfully, participate in worship, take the Lord’s Supper, and listen to the Word, and then we walk out the doors and into the world and resume old practices.

Upon entering a restaurant for Sunday dinner, do the workers avoid serving our table or do they look forward to a fresh breath of air from someone who truly cares about them, shares their financial blessings, and treats them with respect and appreciation? Why is it we often leave our reflection of Christ in the church pew? God calls us to be authentic and pure.

James concludes this lesson with a challenge for us to be authentic, and he gives us some guidelines to make it very clear how the world will know if our behavior is Christlike. We are to be in control of our tongues, care for the fatherless and widows, and reflect Christ by not being influenced by the world (vv. 26, 27).

The word used here for “religious” is threskos in Greek. “It can refer to one who has a genuine walk with God or to one who merely keeps outward rituals.”¹ James is referring to being genuine and authentic in our faith by including selfless acts of service, an active response to the grace given us. These acts flow out of our commitment and love for the Lord. We cannot earn our place in Heaven, but we can allow the reflection of Christ to appear on our beings by caring for those in need—not just orphans or widows, but all in need.

James 1:27 concludes, “[not] being polluted by the world.” In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul admonishes us to keep things real and not to allow the world to sway us.

We are all influenced at different levels by the world. Our youth are told how to be “cool.” Women are told to be beautiful. Men are told how to be successful. Our thoughts become distorted. Focus on 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

When we are tempted to be influenced by the world’s messages, we must be clear that they reflect what Christ teaches us to say, hear, receive, or do.

So how have you been blessed by giving and receiving?

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¹Gary Holloway, The College Press NIV Commentary: James and Jude (Joplin: College Press, 1996).