God cares for the disadvantaged. Who are they? I think of refugees fleeing their homes because of violence and wartime atrocities, women and children subject to domestic abuse, kidnapped kids thrown into human trafficking, immigrants who have sacrificed everything for a better life in another country, the lonely and the outcasts, babies born with congenital conditions that will make life very difficult, those caught up in various addictions, and the list goes on. We can be easily overwhelmed with the hopelessness of solving all these people’s problems. But throwing up our hands and walking away is guaranteed to help no one. We can’t ignore it all, but we start by helping one person.

One day, a few men in our church, gathering clothes and food items, set up a table in the city known for its homeless population. This wasn’t sponsored by the church or any institution. They were motivated by the Spirit to simply do what they could. Another “homeless outreach” (as they call it) was planned, and more men joined in on it. One gentleman in his mid-70s said, “I’ve been praying for opportunities to help those less fortunate. I’ll be there!”

I am reminded of King David’s description of God:

“A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity …” (Psalm 68:5–6)

How will God “make a home for the lonely,” or in general act on behalf of needy people, except through the hands and feet and pocketbooks of believers? God cares for the fatherless and widows. In the ancient world, a family without a father or a woman without a husband was synonymous with poverty, vulnerability, and neglect. It would not be a stretch to see this today as including children growing up without a father or solid male presence and single mothers. Sure, we can decry the high divorce rate, but what do we do with the hurting little ones and the struggling mothers who work two jobs for enough money to make a life for their kids? Yes, we can say things like, “It’s too bad; I hope they can make it, and God will provide.” But we must never forget that our faith must prove itself genuine by embracing the heart of God for the disadvantaged:

“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:14–17)

God saw that we were severely, spiritually disadvantaged because of sin and left the comfort of His place in glory, coming down to where we were at, meeting our need on the cross and relieving the burden of judgment and condemnation against us—how can we ignore the plight of those less fortunate than us in their circumstances of life? James’ terse writing is a double-edged sword. First, suppose a professing believer has absolutely no concern for anyone who is disadvantaged, apart from the occasional melancholy thought, but with no tangible actions. In that case, the person should consider whether his or her faith in God is genuine or it’s just a dead word that has no relationship to reality!

The second edge of James’ sword is to stir up genuine believers who have genuinely been redeemed and become new creations in Christ to not let your faith and love atrophy into a spiritual vacuum.

Who can you reach out to with your resources, time, and energy to help in their time of need?