What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17
Faith and Works
“I have faith in God and Jesus.” Undoubtedly, this is something that many Christians proclaim. We say that we go to church and read the Bible, but oftentimes our works (and words) don’t match up. Just saying something without action leads to an empty promise.
We all know very well those people in our lives that claim to believe or want something but then don’t act on it. Maybe you wanted to get into better shape physically, so you tell your family and friends that you’re going to start working out. And then you continue to sit on the couch.
Like this, if we claim that we follow God and Jesus, have faith, and believe in them, then do our actions reflect our belief?
As the verse mentioned earlier in James says, what good is faith without works? What good is saying you believe in Jesus if you don’t follow his teachings? And how can you follow his teachings if you don’t know them?
A Living Faith Comes from Understanding
“Faith” isn’t a blind belief in an idea or a person, but should come from a true understanding of the Word (of God). From that understanding, your faith should then turn into action – a living faith. James goes on to say,
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
James 2:18-20
On the other hand, who works without believing in what they’re working for? Some people do, but they’re usually miserable.
Have you ever had a job that you don’t care about, or worked for a company or person who you didn’t believe in? Are you able to full-heartedly give your genuine effort? Of course not. So in that way, by working, by following God and obeying His Word, we prove that we have faith in Him.
In order to work, we must know God’s words, then believe in them, and from that knowledge and belief, we act on them. And once we act out of belief, then God acknowledges your faith. God has provided many examples of those who had great faith, who trusted God’s words, and acted on them. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus, and his disciples, the martyrs of early Christianity.
Abraham’s Living Faith
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
James 2:21-24
Abraham acted on the faith he had. He believed God and followed through with the command he was given. Imagine if that was you. You’re praying to God, saying you love Him and believe in Him. And then He asks you to sacrifice your only child, to give up this precious baby that you have waited and prayed for and received late in life. The child himself is a miracle, granted by God. But now God is asking you to give that baby up. Could you do it?
In that moment when you have to decide whether to obey God or whether to hold onto your precious child, that’s when your faith in God is seen. Do you trust that He has a plan that will benefit not only you, but will bring Him glory? Was that love for God that you boldly proclaimed based in true faith that God would take care of you no matter what? Faith is easy during good times. It’s the times when we don’t know what will happen, or in the times when it’s painful to follow God or believe in His promise that our faith is measured.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
James 2:26
What Kind of Faith Do I Have?
I hope and pray we can have a faith that’s not dead, and not just lip service, but a living faith. A faith that’s based on understanding God’s Word, believing in it, and putting that into action.
Have I had a blind faith or a faith based on an understanding on God’s Word?
Let’s ask ourselves these questions and also make sure that we have a living faith that will bring glory to God.
Written by Kenny
If you would like to know more about the faith we need to have that God considers to be righteous, check out this post!
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