Family Life: The Secularist versus God #2080

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26–27, NKJV)

Leftist ideology is today’s religion for the secularist. Unbelievers who refuse to retain God in their knowledge have a belief system (Rom. 1:20-32). Humanism says, “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves” (Humanist Manifesto II, 1973). Christians must beware of their tactics and influence to dismantle God’s purposes for humanity. With no fear of God and antagonism toward His word of truth, secular humanists are busy reshaping society and souls. One way is by destroying God’s arrangement of the family (male and female marriage, father, mother, and children, Gen. 2:22-24; 1:28) while telling us they are pro-family. No, they are not. Case in point: First, the secularists advocate for abortion, an action that denies family life to innocent, unborn children. Second, they advocate against adopting children in desperate need of family structure and security by telling us these adoptions disrupt the child’s ethnic and cultural identity. Take away life (abortion) and deny family life (anti-adoption policies); these are the results of the humanist philosophy. God cares for the welfare of orphans (and widows), and Christians relieve them. God cares for a child’s life (unborn and born) and wellbeing, not skin color, ethnicity, and cultural background. Let us beware not to be stained by the world.

Giving with Faith in God #1845

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: 9 “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:8–9, NKJV)

Christians do not give seeking renown or repayment for their acts of kindness (Lk. 14:12-14). The Lord sees unselfish giving, and He will repay it (Matt. 6:1-4). In today’s passage, Paul exhorted the Corinthians to give bountifully, purposefully, and cheerfully to the relief of needy saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 9:1, 6-7). He did so by assuring them God would abundantly supply their ability to participate in this good work. Reminiscent of Malachi’s admonition to Israel, Paul implies we cannot out give God (Mal. 3:8-10). We are to trust God to provide our own needs as well as our ability to give to others (2 Cor. 9:10-11). And so, like God, the pious person disperses to the poor without thought of return (v. 9; Psa. 112:9). Let us be bountiful, purposeful, and cheerful givers who trust God to provide our needs even as He supplies our ability to give to others.

Sharing and Caring #836

distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (Romans 12:13, NKJV)

Christians are to share in addressing and relieving the needs of fellow Christians. “Distributing” is the verb form of fellowship, and urges us to keep having fellowship with needy brethren to reduce their present need. As he wrote this to the Romans, Paul himself was on a trip to Jerusalem, delivering assistance to the needy saints there (Rom. 15:25-27). He also advises that we pursue hospitality (the love of strangers). As strangers and pilgrims in this world, we must show the kind generosity that hospitality affords. It is our calling to lovingly assist strangers. W are to be “given to” (pursue) hospitality as our vocation. Consciously seek opportunities to entertain strangers, even as you share in relieving needy brethren (Heb. 13:2; Gal. 6:10).