James 1:27, Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
When I was a pastor, I was frequently asked, “How do I know God’s will for my life?” The person asking usually wanted to know God’s will for a particular decision they faced, such as what college to choose, what job to pursue, or who to date or marry. While there are certainly biblical principles to guide each of these decisions, God’s Word doesn’t tend to reveal those particulars. There’s no “thou shalt have no other universities before Texas A&M” despite what we Aggies might think! Yet while God chose not to speak directly on career, alma mater, or the name of your future spouse, He did speak explicitly about something that matters even more: your character. I do not think He cares overly much about whether you choose to be an engineer or a school teacher. I do think He cares deeply that whatever profession you choose, you use it as James 1 says above to care in practical ways for the needs of the most vulnerable among us, such as orphans and widows. That’s what truly matters in the end. If we imagine God speaking proudly of His children’s accomplishments to His angelic court, I don’t think He’s talking about our college or career. I think He’s talking about that time you went out of your way to help an elderly widow or widower in town. That’s what delights His Fatherly heart.
And so, it was our joy yesterday to use the generous donations of OnRamp donors like you to buy and then donate a lovely sedan to a sweet widow in our town named Ila! She was sponsored by her friend and manager, Carol, who saw how badly Ila needed a reliable, air-conditioned vehicle to get to necessary doctor appointments, the pharmacy, and store, and visit her grandchildren. So Carol nominated Ila to OnRamp, and we immediately accepted her as a client. And in God’s timing, a VERY comfortable, highly optioned Ford Taurus with only 61k miles popped up on Craigslist exactly when we needed it. The seller offered us a significant discount, so we jumped on the opportunity to purchase such a low-mileage vehicle. As always, Rami acquired the car and Christian Brothers prepared it for us. Huge thanks to Cassidy, Mary, and Stephanie who took the lead on Ila’s case.
While Ila looks forward to using the car for her own needs and to visit her grandchildren, she also plans to use it to provide rides to other Elder Aid residents. So this one donation will bless multiple widows in our community. Thank you so much to all who helped us fulfill James 1:27 in this sweet woman’s life!
