“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:14-19
What good is faith without works? James sums it up; “Faith without action is DEAD!” While good deeds alone are not the mark of a follower of Christ, true faith is always moved to action.
Faith loves and comforts. It heals and encourages. Faith reaches out to bring light into darkness and hope where there is only despair. Faith checks up on people to see how they are really doing. Faith doesn’t just say, “I’ll pray for you.” Faith prays with others. Faith is humble. Faith gives and gives. It gives generously and cheerfully and not under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7). It gives generously out of its own poverty condition when others think there is not enough to go around (Acts 2:4-3). Faith doesn’t wallow in self-pity; faith perseveres and rejoices (James 1:3) even in the middle of trials of many kinds.
Faith keeps its eyes on the goal.
Like love, faith doesn’t give up. Faith demonstrates what it believes by what it does.
Faith sends encouraging notes. It invites people for a walk, a cool drink of water, for dinner. Faith shares truth with grace. Faith brings unexpected flowers. It pays the bill for someone in need. Faith smiles when others rejoice; it holds the hand of those who mourn.
Faith rises above an intellectual ascent to a truth. It goes way beyond most people’s concept of ‘religion.’ It exceeds the drive to just do good works. Good works are the result of true faith. Faith is intentional in its actions. It reaches out to others and speaks value to their life. True faith is always moved to action and those good deeds are always done with the intent of bringing glory to God, not ourselves.
Marcia and Deysi, Bolivia
Got faith? Let it shine in the lives of others so they too can see God’s glory.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Jesus, in Matthew 5:16