James 2:14-17(NKJV)
14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
(We were blessed to have Dr. B. J. Pruitt with us this past week. Here are some thoughts on one of his messages. All are available on our web site. WWW.LivingWordGreene.com.)
To some these verses may seem strange. Didn’t Paul teach that we are saved by grace through faith? Didn’t he often talk about the fact that works cannot save us? Indeed he did. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that can bring us into a relationship with God that will save us. Why then, does James seem to indicate that faith is not enough. In these verses he is talking about true faith verses a religious statement of faith.
In his world as in our own, there were many who would proclaim that they believed in Jesus. They would claim the Christian faith as their own, but their lives contained no actions to prove that this faith was real. They said the right things and followed the rituals but when it came to this faith affecting their life and behavior they were found lacking. In this verse he uses an example of how these people say they have faith but do not show it in their lifestyle.
He points out their actions to the poor. They see those in need, they have what it takes to help, but instead give them “faith words” and no help. He says to them, “What good do your religious words of faith do if you don’t give them any food or cloths.” If we truly have faith it will show in our lifestyle and our choices. If our faith is not producing any works than we really don’t have faith at all. Faith is what saves us, but if we really believe something it affects us in ways that can be seen.
In James’ illustration he uses the action of helping someone in need. I certainly believe that this should be one of the works our Christian faith produces, but I don’t think that is all James is talking about. There are many “works” our faith should produce. The work of holiness should be produced by our faith. In other words, if I really have faith in Jesus it should result in my lifestyle changing to reflect it. I should begin to stop sin in my life. If I say I am a Christian and I just keep living the same way I did before I was saved, my Christian experience is subject. I may still fall occasionally. I may even struggle with some issues in my life, but my faith must begin to cause me to desire to overcome sin.
There are also works of service. If I really have faith in Jesus that faith should be manifest in a desire to serve His kingdom and preach his Gospel. I should be willing to share with other believers and help them grow in faith as well. My faith should show itself in the “works” of prayer and study of the Word of God. If I have no desire for either, I must question the quality of my faith. How can I say I have faith and never wish to fellowship with the One in whom I believe.
This also applies to the things we are believing for from God. If I say I have faith for finances, for example, my faith must manifest in obedience to the Word. The bible tells me to give and it shall be given unto me. If I believe this, my faith will be evident because I will give. Even if it seems that I cannot give I will do so because I believe that God will give back to me.
If I am believing for healing I will do whatever I can to act in accordance with what I believe. That does not mean that I should do foolish things, but if I can get up I will get up because I believe in the healing power of Jesus. I will do something that shows my faith.
It is important to note that we do not do something to get faith. We do something because we have faith. We see the truth of the Word of God, it becomes real in our hearts and we act accordingly. If we have no faith to begin with the works are dead. They will not produce the faith. If we say we have faith and that faith produces no response in our outward life, then that faith is dead, it never really existed and it can not save us.
Another way to say this is faith without corresponding action is dead. If we believe something there must be some kind of action that will correspond with what we believe. For salvation the actions are a changed life. For receiving financial prosperity the actions are various types of giving. For other things we believe, the actions will correspond to that belief.
Examine you life today. Is your faith producing actions in your outward life? You may need to receive some things from the Lord. That is valid. Think about what you are believing for. Are there things in the Word that you can do? Is there a condition to the promise that you can fulfill? Have you taken the first action steps of opening the Book and finding the promise? If not you need to begin there. Is there some way that you can do anything that would correspond to what you believe. Take that step and see what God will do.
On the other hand we will never be able to act on the promises if our faith is not producing lifestyle actions. If we will not apply faith and corresponding action to overcoming sin or fellowshipping with the Lord, we will not be able to act in faith to receive a promise. If we try to act on the promise, it won’t really be faith and we will fail. Find some area of your Christian faith and begin to apply some corresponding action. Make this a part of your Christian walk. God will meet you and great things can be done in you and through you as faith and action take their proper place in your life.
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