There was once a college student who was having a hard time understanding all the injustice in the world. He spent a great deal of his time feeling angry and frustrated. When he could stand it no longer, he went to the dim and seldom-used chapel on campus. He paced up and down the aisles, slapping the back of the empty pews. He yelled, he cried, and he raged at God saying,
“God You created the world. What could You possibly have been thinking? Look at the problems people face. Look at the pain, suffering, and hunger. Look at the neglect, the waste, the abuse. Everywhere I look, I see messed-up people, hurting people, lonely people!”
The young man ranted and raved like this on and on. Finally, exhausted, he sat in the front pew and looked hopelessly at the cross and said,
“It’s all such a mess! This world You created is nothing but a terrible mess! Why even I could make a world better than this one!”
At that moment the young man heard the voice of God reply, “That is exactly what I want you to do.”
Well, that’s what He wants us to do as well-make this world a better place by getting involved in meeting the needs we see around us. We make the world a better place by pointing them to the savior and his grace. And if we truly experience His grace-we’ll want to do this. If we don’t allow our faith in God’s grace to drive us to help others, the Bible says in the book of James that our faith profits no one-it is a useless faith.
Listen to James 2:14-19 - 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.
When James talks about works he is speaking of those actions in the lives of Christians, which spring up from our new life in Christ. Scripture clearly teaches us that we are not saved by works. If you are trusting in knowledge, education, wisdom, your feeling, your emotions, religion, or even your belief – you are not saved. Salvation comes when you place your trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross to pay the debt and the weight of your sins. But James is saying that the evidence that you have truly trusted Christ for your salvation is good deeds – works.
We clearly understand that we are not saved and forgiven of our sins because of our works or good deeds. You could never work your way into Heaven. We do not do good works to be saved. We do good works because we are saved.
The life we live for Christ is the evidence of our salvation. James is saying, “it should be visible.” You can’t call yourself a Christian and not live like one. There is an outer evidence of the inner work of Christ in our lives.
When James uses the word works here it is not referring to some type of service that is done. He is speaking of the way of life that faith brings, which includes service. Good works or beneficial living is the evidence of genuine faith. If you truly believe in something – you want to do something about it. Paul Harvey once said, “If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.”
Today’s Challenge: Real faith is not just something you believe, it’s something you do. It’s not passive. It’s active. It’s committed to doing something. Today choose to live your faith out loud. Let it be visible. Let your faith cause you to serve God with passion and purpose.
