James 2:15-17 - Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food...

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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.

Deuteronomy 8:10

Commentary

The Scripture gives us a mandate to take care of those around us. It implies that we have the knowledge of those around us to know what their financial wellbeing. This is a passage addressing community as much as charity. We have a responsibility to be in a community that looks after the needs of each other.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Deuteronomy 8:10 - When you have eaten and are satisfied...

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:10

Commentary

Thousa.nds of years after this verse was written, in the midst of a hard winter that killed half of their fellow travelers, the Pilgrims who settled America still had a lot to be thankful for. Just before they arrived, a plague had wiped out a hostile tribe that would have killed them. Fifteen years earlier, one member of that tribe had been taken to Europe, was taught English, became a Christian, and came back to America just in time to teach the Pilgrims how to survive. Thanksgiving is a reminder that we have a good God who rescues us in a broken world.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC