“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
James 2:14, 17 NLT
Some people are really good speakers and have a real command of the English language. They can be very impressive when listening to them but we often wonder if their lives back up their words. You see people who are truly in need don’t need eloquent words, they need someone to care about them. James being the practical Apostle, points out to us that our faith must be one of action and good deeds.
He goes so far to warn us that our faith is dead and useless unless there evidence of good works in our lives. James goes even further to say that faith without good deeds is not enough to save anyone. From these verses we can see that the Lord places a very high value on faith that stirs us, motivates us to do the work of the kingdom of God. Scripture tells us also that we will know others by the fruit in their lives. God’s definition of fruit are spiritual and physical blessings we provided for others.
I am convinced that a life that is founded on faith that is evidenced by good deeds is exactly the formula James speaks of in these verses. Our faith must help drive us to higher service for our Lord . We should be examples of God’s goodness in both our words and our actions!
In Christ
RJ