11-2-2024 Faith and Works
Faith with works
James 2:14-26
I’ve discovered that faith and works work hand in hand in building a thankful heart.
Who and/or what is profited if a man says he has faith but stays to himself? What good does it do a man if he does all kinds of wonderful works but does them just so others might give you a pat on the back and say “Good job!”?
The apostle Paul tells us that whatsoever we do, we should do to edify others (Eph. 4:29). He also tells us that whatsoever we do, do with all our heart for we serve God and as we do, we do to please Him and not man. However, man might just benefit from what we do (Col.3:23).
This passage gives us some examples of how we can serve God by serving our fellow man (Matt. 14:15-20): feed one who is hungry. Years ago, when my wife and I were yet ‘newly-weds’, I was waiting for her in the parking lot of a shopping center in Ocean City, Md. A man approached me and asked for money to buy some food. I am aware that many drug or alcohol addicts approach for money to bolster their habit. So I said to the man “I won’t give you any money, but I will take you to get something to eat.” There was a shop right near where we were standing. The man agreed. I bought him something to eat, he thanked me, he left and I went back to waiting for my wife. A simple act of kindness. PS: as I am writing this down, more than fifty years later, after the incident. Father asked me ‘do you know who that man was?’ I said no. Father then Father said “You never know when you might be entertaining angels” (Heb. 13:2). This knowledge makes more thankful that I was obedient because I felt pretty good about it.
Paul reminds us to treat everyone the
same, remembering that no matter how they look or act, we are all ’human beings’.
We all have feelings, emotions, doubts or fears or even opinions. No matter how deep we may hide them, we ALL have them. By the grace of God, I’ve never had an issue
with a person’s race. When I was
(probably) between ten to twelve, my mother had a coworker’s husband came
repair our kitchen ceiling. You may ask
why didn’t my dad do it? He left the
home when I was about nine. Anyway, he
was a black man (Africa American). Oh,
when I was a kid growing up here were only three races – black, white and
yellow (Asiatic).
It was summer so I was a home and as the day progressed he decided to take a lunch break. He looked at me as asked if I wanted to join him for lunch? McDonalds had just recently opened up in our suburban neighborhood and I had never been there so this was a no-brainer for me. I don’t remember if we ate in the car or went inside but it was my first ‘sandwich, drink and fries and was only $1.00! Later, after he had finished the job and left and my mom had come home from her government job in DC (she rode the Greyhound bus), I told her how I enjoyed my first McD’s burger. She looked at me and said “Son, it always good to be friendly with all people and be nice, but it isn’t good to ‘hang around’ with everybody.” “????” I was surprised to hear my mom say that, I knew what she meant. She was always polite and friendly – no matter whom she encountered. Didn’t change my mind. I still thought he was a pretty neat guy AND I was thankful that I got a burger fries and a drink out of the deal to boot! I didn’t really know God back then, but He was I am lthankful tht He was already teaching me to take a person for who they are – not what they looked like
However, later in life after I had received Jesus into my life, Father brought this lesson home to me again. Not as a ‘race’ issue but with an ‘image’ issue. I owned two motorcycles in my young adult life, a 250cc Triumph dirt bike (a quick little bugger) and a 650 BSA road bike. I knew about the Hell’s Angels (1% bikers), but it seemed as though they were far to the west of our east coast location. But a group called the Pagans (also 1% bikers) had risen up on the eastern seaboard and that was a bit closer to home. Never had a personal encounter with either but I decided that I could witness to anyone – except a 1% biker. These are the guys who had the reputation of being involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, were reported to be mean sons of a gun and to be downright anti society. So I decided to stay clear of them. As I said, knowingly, I have never encountered a 1%er (though I have seen many who appeared to be so on the road at times), So, Father had me address my frame of mind in this area. This is when Father showed me about truly accepting a person for who they are and not what they looked or acted like. Father helped me understand that no matter how hard a person looked or how tough they may act they are still people underneath that harsh exterior. Father shared with me that the ‘tough’ exterior most likely was hiding hurts, disappointment or even the person’s own fears, whatever they may be. Father showed me to accept a person simply because he/she is a human being, just like me, not matter how deep they may hide who they truly are. I was thankful Father shared this lesson for it helped me put a lot of other things into proper perspective.
Father asks us to put our faith to the test (Mal. 3:10). Two blind men came to Jesus. They asked Jesus to heal their blindness and Jesus asked if they believed that He could. They replied “yes”, then Jesus said “according to our faith, be it unto you.” They received their sight and praised God (Math 9:29). Peter and John encountered a lame at the ‘Beautiful Gate’ at the temple. The man looked at them expecting to receive money but Peter said “I don’t have silver nor gold, but what I do have I will give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” Peter then reached down with his right hand and lifted the man up. The man’s feet and ankles immediately received strength and he leaped up and walked around praising God (Acts 3:1-8). Do you think this man might have been just a tad thankful for his healing?
Our faith does require an action on our part and if another person is involved, their faith also matters. They must receive what Father is giving them. We receive as we believe Father will do it for us (Mark:11:24).
I encountered a man in the neighborhood in which I lived. He explained the he and his wife had no food. I took them to the grocery store bought some food for them. We continually encountered each other over time and I helped him as I could, but after a while, I realized that he was not doing much to help himself. Lesson learned? Was I thankful for this lesson? Of course! Don’t cast your pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6). We’re to help people but not let them attempt to bleed us dry.
Abraham demonstrated his faith in God as he took his only son Isaac to be sacrificed on an altar. Yes, Father did provide a lamb for sacrifice instead of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-13). Father was testing Abraham’s faith, yet He was not allowing Abraham to make an unnecessary sacrifice. Do any of us think that Abraham was thankful that God spared his son? Yet, Father was showing Abraham how much He loved us and what He would to for man through Jesus. Abraham was taking an action, showing his faith in God. We must believe and receive Jesus, otherwise we are no better than the seaweed that washes up onto the shore. How can we receive from one in whom we don’t believe?
The Lord said to share this as well. Even before I had given my heart to Jesus, I owned that Triumph 250 cc dirt bike. Coming home from my sister’s house via the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, I rounded a sharp curve not far from my exit. This was a ‘blind curve’ so you couldn’t see much until you passed around the arc of the curve and were coming out of it. And then I saw the traffic at a standstill, about thirty yards ahead (almost a third of an NFL football field). I was travelling at the posted speed of 65 mph so I had to choose my action quickly. Do I slam into the last car in line or lay the bike down and slide under the rear bumper taking my chances and hoping for the best, in either case. I couldn’t fly like superman, for I’d have to land someplace nor did I cherish having the skin of my leg possibly peeled like a potato. Suddenly, I heard a voice “Get off the gas, do not hit the brake and steer over onto the gravel shoulder and let the bike slow down on its own until you can safely stop.” I knew I wasn’t me telling myself this, so I obeyed the instructions, steered over onto the shoulder and slowed down until I could safely stop. I was obedient to ‘the Voice’ and was spared from what could have been a very disastrous accident. How thankful do you think I was? Yet, it was still about three years before I gave my heart to the Lord. In retrospect, I discovered that He was watching over me, even then. Thank you Jesus!
Our passage, in James, goes on to mention Rahab the harlot. Two Israeli men had come to ‘spy out’ Jericho. She helped the two me escape danger then she, herself, was spared when Israel took the city (Josh. 6:22-23). Rahab took a positive action believing that she would remain safe. And she did! Do we suspect that she might have been thankful that her life and those in her house were spared?
Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood saying “Daughter, be comforted, your faith has made you whole”. For twelve years the doctors couldn’t help this woman but she believed Jesus could and would heal her so she touched His garment and was healed (Luke 8:43-48). Jesus’ reaction? Who touched Me? Do we really think He didn’t know? The woman believed and took an action of her faith and Jesus obliged her. I wonder if she was thankful that Jesus healed her? lol
I could go on with other examples from the bible or even my own life, but consider this: it is good that we believe in God, but the devils believe and tremble (v19 in our passage). The devils know that God exists, but they refuse to yield to Him and do His works. We have that option - to believe, as the devils do or that Father can and will do what He says. Then act on that faith. Thanking God for all that He does for us (Eph. 5:19-20).
God called Job a perfect and upright man (Job 1:8, 2:3). I love Job (Job 42:5) where Job comes to understand his relationship with the Lord. Job was a faithful Jew so He knew ‘all about’ God, but he says, “I have seen you with my own eye” (face to face). Through his experiences, loss of all that he had, his buddies trying to convince him that he must have sinned and not repented Job had come to know God – personally. Job never lost his perspective on God and in the end, though things got pretty rough, Job never doubted God and God blessed him many times over (Job 42:12-13). Hmmm. I wonder, in the end, if Job was thankful?
Faith without works is dead (v17). We can tell people all about our faith in God, but if we don’t back it up with our actions, why should they believe us? So, we show our faith through our works. I don’t know about anyone else, but in the end, I’m so thankful that when I exercise my faith, things work out in my favor.
This personal relationship is what enables us to effectively put our faith into action and those actions bring positive rewards – and glory to God! Praise His holy name!
Amen