For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Turning aside after Satan does not mean that one has become a Satan
worshipper or interested in the occult. That may happen, but turning aside
after Satan is simply living one’s life habitually like him: lying, accusing,
manipulating, deceiving, lusting—all for the purpose of one thing: you. Self-centeredness was Satan’s
downfall. O the lie of believing in yourself! No, trust in God alone, He is
your everything and has given you every blessing and natural faculty, talent,
and gifting and understanding that you have. Praise the one who made you! For
if you don’t, pride, the very nature of what made Satan, Satan has seized you.
And if you are in that cursed state of pride, humble yourself!
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye
double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter
be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James
4:6-10 (KJV)
16 If any man or woman that
believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be
charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
Do you know a widow? Do you
think that she has needs? Then don’t go to your Church as the first source of
help for them. No, relieve them yourselves. Help cut the grass, do minor
repairs, or buy her food. The purpose of all that Paul is saying is that we
should love selflessly and compassionately as Christ did. Put action to your
Faith. Those that are truly in need, the Church will care for, but there is a
large mission field out there for not complete assistance, but for coming
alongside and helping for a season or a lifetime: single mothers and their
children, young widows just going through the loss of her husband, elderly
widows who are fine financially, but lack children who love them and the
ability to do certain things for themselves—this is the mission field of every
family and every individual (notice that Paul says if any man or woman….)!
1 Tim 5:15-16 (KJV)
