In The Word
Read: James 2: 14-26
Faith and Works
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 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? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In our scripture today, James addresses the thought that faith is independent of works. But in reality, saying you have faith does not prove that you are a person of faith. In this case, words are good, but works prove the words. We do have faith, but how we demonstrate that faith is by our works. If we say that we feed to poor but never deliver a meal, what good is that. If we say that we minister to widows but do nothing to help true widows, what does that prove? If we say that we care for orphans but never hold one or provide care for one, who will know that we have faith?
James calls the believers to action in their faith. Faith is not a word that we can throw around. Faith is the action that proves our words. Faith and works are co-laborers. They hold each other up and verify each other. Without the one or the other, both are canceled out. James says it is then that the faith we say we have is then dead (useless).
We live in a generation that seeks genuineness. They want to see a faith that is alive and active. Let your faith in Jesus Christ be heard and seen. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) It will be when our actions empower our words that our faith will become a living faith.