Jump Start # 733

James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

There are three courses in life. There are those who are not religious and they know that. God has no place nor time in their lives. For some who are like this, they grew up that way. Their home life did not include regular prayers, Bible reading or going to worship services. That area of their life didn’t exist. Others in this category, may have started off believing, but some traumatic event in their life or a college science class took away all belief that they had. They do not consider themselves to be religious. They are not concerned about such things. Secular and material is the extent of their thinking.

Then there are those that James referred to in our verse today. They think that they are religious. These folks love God to an extent and may even go to worship services now and then. James calls their religion worthless. It’s worthless because they do not bridle their tongue. It’s worthless because their religion hasn’t changed him, challenged them nor moved them closer to God. It’s enough to soothe a guilty conscience but not enough to do any good. An “unbridled tongue” is a tongue that is out of control. Gossip and cruel words and a sharp tongue are characteristics of an unbridled tongue. A person may claim to be a Christian, but their tongue doesn’t agree. Their tongue reveals their true identity. They have fooled themselves. These are the ones who are convinced that they are saved. They claim they are saved but their tongue leaves everyone else wondering. How sad and pitiful to have something that is worthless, especially a religion. Years ago land was sold to innocent people believing that there was gold and oil on the property. There wasn’t. The land turned to be worthless. Others have bought investments that turned out to be worthless. A worthless religion—what a profound and cold statement. A worthless religion won’t help a person when they need help. A worthless religion will not get a person where they want to go—Heaven. A worthless religion may feel good and fit well and be very easy, but it’s not the religion of Jesus Christ. Often a person doesn’t know something is worthless until they try to sell it or use it. How sad to go through life with a worthless religion and then at the end, when you hope it will take you home to God, find out it was worthless.

The third course in life is true religion. That is defined in the next verse of James. It is a religion that works both on self and others. It is a religion that is not easy. Keeping oneself pure in an impure world isn’t an easy task. Taking care of others is demanding. It costs, time, money and energy. True religion shows it’s self today. It’s a busy religion. It’s a religion that is marked by changed hearts and a commitment to Jesus. True religion is based upon the Bible. It follows the Bible. It follows Jesus. It is a faith that imitates Jesus—in attitude, obedience and love. There’s no denying the true religion. It shows.

Three courses in life. You see all three each day. There are those who have no religion and it shows. There are those who have a worthless religion and it shows. And there are those who manifest a true religion and it shows. Those with no religion often complain about the rest who have religion. They can be demanding and pushy. Such is life without a moral compass and a direction to follow.

Three courses. Which one are you on? Do others know about it? Does it show? Is it making a difference in your life and those about you? Pure religion or worthless religion…make sure you’re pursuing the right one and for the right reasons.

Roger