James 2:14-26
[14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] 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? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
[18] 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. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] 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. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25] And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
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This passage left me with a question: Is my faith being shown? If so, what does it look like? But, I'll get to that later on...
It's passages like this one that can drop your heart into your stomach, I think. It's all about questioning your faith; but maybe not in the way that we're used to. The passage starts out with the question, "What good is it?" (I was immediately intrigued...) See, we all have faith. We tell our family and friends we have faith. We tell strangers we have faith by wearing corny T-shirts or having the ICTHUS fish on the back of our cars. Now those things are well and good, but we go back to the previous question... "What good is it?"
It's all about action. James plays out a short scenario in vs. 15-16: someone is poor, they explain to us that they need clothing and they need food. So, we say something encouraging or uplifting like, "Just give the situation to God," or "God will provide," or we quote a verse from the Scriptures out of context. Encouraging words, advice, and verses from Scripture are great, but this person needs food! They need clothing! Words don't mean a terrible amount to someone who isn't sure where their next meal is coming from, especially when you have the means to help them.
Faith is a beautiful thing, but verse 19 explains that even the demons believe in God; and they're scared of Him! So you tell others, "I believe in God!" Well, that's great, but if demons believe in God too, where do you stand? Abraham knew where he stood. A man who was asked to give up his only son, a son that was a miracle of God. But, Abraham knew God had promised that Abraham would father many nations, and without children, that's not possible. So Abraham had faith, and he acted on it. As did Rahab. A prostitute who helped hide some messengers of God and helped them escape possible captivity and potential persecution. These were just two that James used as examples, but they are prime examples of individuals who were justified by their faith being put into action. Faith really is a beautiful thing... when you put it into action.
So, is your faith being shown? Other than hearing about your faith, do people SEE it and/or EXPERIENCE it? And if it is seen, is your faith genuine? Does it bless the heart of God?
[14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] 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? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
[18] 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. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! [20] Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] 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. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25] And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
--------------------------------------------------------
This passage left me with a question: Is my faith being shown? If so, what does it look like? But, I'll get to that later on...
It's passages like this one that can drop your heart into your stomach, I think. It's all about questioning your faith; but maybe not in the way that we're used to. The passage starts out with the question, "What good is it?" (I was immediately intrigued...) See, we all have faith. We tell our family and friends we have faith. We tell strangers we have faith by wearing corny T-shirts or having the ICTHUS fish on the back of our cars. Now those things are well and good, but we go back to the previous question... "What good is it?"
It's all about action. James plays out a short scenario in vs. 15-16: someone is poor, they explain to us that they need clothing and they need food. So, we say something encouraging or uplifting like, "Just give the situation to God," or "God will provide," or we quote a verse from the Scriptures out of context. Encouraging words, advice, and verses from Scripture are great, but this person needs food! They need clothing! Words don't mean a terrible amount to someone who isn't sure where their next meal is coming from, especially when you have the means to help them.
Faith is a beautiful thing, but verse 19 explains that even the demons believe in God; and they're scared of Him! So you tell others, "I believe in God!" Well, that's great, but if demons believe in God too, where do you stand? Abraham knew where he stood. A man who was asked to give up his only son, a son that was a miracle of God. But, Abraham knew God had promised that Abraham would father many nations, and without children, that's not possible. So Abraham had faith, and he acted on it. As did Rahab. A prostitute who helped hide some messengers of God and helped them escape possible captivity and potential persecution. These were just two that James used as examples, but they are prime examples of individuals who were justified by their faith being put into action. Faith really is a beautiful thing... when you put it into action.
So, is your faith being shown? Other than hearing about your faith, do people SEE it and/or EXPERIENCE it? And if it is seen, is your faith genuine? Does it bless the heart of God?
This is really good=] Made me think!
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