“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27 NLT)

In football, there are players who excel at their position on offense and players who excel at their position on defense. And then there are the exceedingly rare athletes who excel on both sides of the ball. They’re called two-way players. They have the skills to contribute both offensively and defensively.

In James 1:27, James calls for Christians to be “two-way players” in putting our faith into action. On the offensive side, he calls us to involve ourselves in the lives of people in need. On the defensive side, he warns us to guard against being corrupted by the world.

Unlike the athletic marvels in football, you don’t need to be extremely gifted to excel in both areas as a believer. You just need to align your priorities with God and follow the game plan in His Word.

In this case, the game plan begins with choosing a side. Here’s a hint: Always team up with people in need, those who fall through the cracks of our society. God loves underdogs—and the people who side with them. Proverbs 19:17 says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (NLT). And Jesus Himself, quoting Isaiah 61:1–2, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18–19 NLT).

Your first instinct may be to pray for the poor and needy in your community. And that’s an instinct you should certainly follow. But if you do, and you stay alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you’ll probably discover that you’re the answer to your own prayer. Or at least part of the answer. There’s a very good chance that He’ll call you to get actively involved in the lives of the people you pray for.

What that might look like is hard to say. What matters is that you can make a difference. You can bring hope to people who desperately need it. You can use your skills and resources to give them assistance. You can connect them to your community. You can let them know that you care in tangible ways. You can show them what Jesus’ love looks like.

But as you concern yourself with other people’s well-being, don’t neglect your own. Especially your spiritual well-being. The world’s influence is a constant threat. What makes it so dangerous is that often you don’t even know you’re being influenced or corrupted.

You need accountability partners—people who can recognize signs of corruption, or even just worldly influence, in you. People who aren’t afraid to lovingly challenge you when necessary. The ideal accountability partner is a Christian spouse or loved one, someone who knows you well and has a deep concern and a vested interest in your spiritual well-being.

Reflection question: What are some subtle ways in which a person can be corrupted or negatively influenced by the world?

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