The "Fatherless"

My grandma recently brought something to my attention I had never considered. She noted how James is the only New Testament writer who specifically mentions the importance of caring for orphans.

James 1:27 says, “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.”

It is right to note the individual nature of this command. It is our personal duty to care for those who cannot help themselves. This work should not be shifted to  an institution. Instead, we should take it upon ourselves to look after those in such unfortunate circumstances.

Yet, the real point my grandma was making was about James himself. The author of the epistle of James was likely the Lord’s brother. After all, “James the brother of John” was dead by this time (see Acts 12:1-2). James, the brother of Jesus,  was singled out as a witness of the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7). Jesus Christ did have “brothers” born to Mary and Joseph naturally after the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 13:55).

However, most Bible  students believe the family of Jesus and James was struck by tragedy as Joseph, their father, must have died at a young age. This belief has Scriptural backing.  Mary is never with her husband as Jesus hangs upon the cross and entrusts John to care for his mother (John 19:26- 27). While Mary is noted at  the ascension; Joseph is absent (Acts 1:14). All of the Scriptural clues point to Mary being a widow and her children “fatherless” at the cross.

With this in mind, could it be James is the only  New Testament writer who mentions the “fatherless” because it was a subject with which he could relate? Could it be because James experienced the pain of losing a father he clearly understood  the need for help in the lives of such families? Even more personally, could it be this teaches us all a lesson about the value of trials?

James could sympathize with the “fatherless”  because he once walked in their shoes. What about you? Your past experiences have brought uninvited grief and pain to your life. Yet, they have also developed character which makes you valuable—the ability to understand, empathize and extend compassion to others facing similar problems today. Like James,  you have a choice. You can wallow in your grief or use your experiences to help someone else. 

Think about it.

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