When I emerged from my hotel in Kampala, Uganda, my hostess, who had come to pick me up for our seminar, looked at me with an amused grin. Whats so funny? I inquired. She laughed and asked, Did you comb your hair? It was my turn to laugh, for I had indeed forgotten to comb my hair. Id looked at my reflection in the hotel mirror. How come I took no notice of what I saw?
In a practical analogy, James gives us a useful dimension to make our study of Scripture more beneficial. We look in the mirror to examine ourselves to see if anything needs correctionhair combed, face washed, shirt properly buttoned. Like a mirror, the Bible helps us to examine our character, attitude, thoughts, and behavior (James 1:2324). This enables us to align our lives according to the principles of what God has revealed. We will keep a tight rein on our tongues (v. 26) and look after orphans and widows (v. 27). We will pay heed to Gods Holy Spirit within us and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world (v. 27).
When we look attentively into the perfect law that gives freedom and apply it to our lives, we will be blessed in what we do (v. 25). As we look into the mirror of Scripture, we can humbly accept the word planted in [us] (v. 21).
INSIGHT
Whats interesting about Jamess definitions of good and bad religion is that theyre not simply opposites. James says bad religion is summarized by not controlling ones speech (v. 26). Following that, we would expect James to say that good religion has something to do with taming our tongue. Instead, good religion is defined by looking after the helpless and needy and not being influenced by the ways of the world.