20 October 2005 Devotion for Today “Faith and Works” James 2:14-18
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and 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? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:14-18
I saw this little note one time and thought it was cute. I would like to share it with you:
My dearest Sally,
I love you more than anything else in the whole world. I would climb the highest mountain just to be with you. I would walk across the hottest desert just to be with you. I would swim the deepest ocean just to be with you. Nothing can separate us and our love. Your beloved Michael.
P.S. See you Saturday night if it does not rain.
Sometimes people’s Christian faith is a lot like Michael’s feelings for Sally. People get sentimental about their faith. They think about how much God does for them and talk about how much He means to them. They reflect fondly about the little white church they went to as a child, and all the time they spent there. Perhaps that is because they do not have much to talk about in the present. Faith is not just something we talk about. Faith is not even describing how much God means to us. Faith is not even about the place where we go (or used to go) for worship. Faith has meaning only when it is put with doing meaningful things for others in the name of Jesus Christ. I know lots of people who tell me how important God is to their lives- but their faith doesn’t make much change in their lives, much less for anyone else. James calls that a dead faith- a faith that has no meaning because really, it is non-existent.
Having said that, I have to be careful not to equate faith and works. There are some who believe that to get to heaven one has to be busy, busy and hope that God will smile down on them in their business. And should they ever keel over with a heart attack while they are laboring for the Lord, He will take them straight to heaven. It doesn’t work like that, either. One has to make a firm commitment to Jesus Christ and declare who He is to the world and live accordingly. This kind of real faith will want to be expressed by getting involved in things that make a difference in people’s lives for the Lord. Doing things at church is one of many ways to express that faith in Christ. One may get involved in worthy activities in the community to serve others. The kind of faith that James talks about here does not just show up on Sunday morning. It shows up every day of the week.
An elderly gentleman in our church told me the other day, “Check on me from time to time to see if I’m still kicking!” How about your faith today? Is it still kicking?
Have a blessed day.
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