What is stopping you from reaching out and being an encouragement? You must have something. (maybe not?)
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I’m flat broke, but I come from a place where they take care of people in every way, really living out Matthew 25.
Jas 1:22 ¶ But be doers of the message and not hearers only, [Some manuscripts have “not only hearers”] deceiving yourselves,
Jas 1:23 because if anyone is a hearer of the message and not a doer, this one is like someone [Literally “a man,” but clearly in a generic sense here meaning “someone, a person”] staring at his own face [Literally “the face of his existence”] in a mirror,
Jas 1:24 for he looks at himself and goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
Jas 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it , not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does [Literally “in his doing”].
Jas 1:26 ¶ If anyone thinks he is religious, although he [*Here “although ” is supplied as a component of the participle (“bridle”) which is understood as concessive] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Jas 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our [*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Jas 2:1 Partiality Forbidden
¶ My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.
Jas 2:2 For if someone [Literally “a man,” but clearly in a generic sense here meaning “someone, a person”] enters into your assembly [Literally “synagogue,” but here probably referring to a Christian assembly] in fine clothing with a gold ring on his finger, and a poor person in filthy clothing also enters,
Jas 2:3 and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, “Be seated here in a good place,” and to the poor person you say, “You stand or be seated there [Some manuscripts have “you stand there or be seated”] by my footstool,”
Jas 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Jas 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
Jas 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich exploiting you and they themselves dragging you into the courts?
Jas 2:7 Do they themselves not blaspheme the good name of the one to whom you belong [Literally “that was called over you”]?
Faith Without Works Is Dead
Jas 2:14 Faith and Works
¶ What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says that he has faith but does not have works? That faith is not able to save him, is it ? [*The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here]
Jas 2:15 If a brother or a sister is poorly clothed and lacking food for the day,
Jas 2:16 and one of you should say to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well [Literally, “be satisfied”],” but does not give them what is necessary for the body, what is the benefit?
Jas 2:17 Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.
Hence my question to our brother-maybe he can find assistance, practical assistance from his community or church.
J.
