How is your faith? What are your works? Do you marry the two of them? Do you consider each of them as one half of a larger whole? Would you consider one to be more important than the other? Does your life reflect your belief?
As Christians we hear and talk a lot about faith. But what is faith and how is it demonstrated? We need to know both the definition of faith and what we are to do with our faith. Our faith cannot be mere believing in God.
We look to Hebrews 11:1 as the definition of faith which says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” That sounds good, but what hope is the author of Hebrews talking about? He is talking about our hope in Jesus Christ and eternal life. We cannot see either at this moment, but we look forward to them.
As we can see by the definition of faith, it is not merely belief that God exists or that Jesus is the Son of God. After all James tells us, “You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19) Faith is far more than believing in God.
Our faith must be put into action. As James states in 2:17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Is it any wonder James asks his rhetorical question in today’s passage? In other places in Scripture, action is called works. When to put together faith and works, we have a very nice reminder in a hyphenated word—faith-works.
A dead faith, or mere belief there is a God, does us no good. We are in no better position to inherit eternal life with God than the demons who also believe He exists. Our faith must be put into action. That doesn’t mean just busy work, but truly working to carry out God’s will. More on that tomorrow.
I pray we all have a faith that includes hope in Jesus Christ. I pray we put our faith into action. I pray each one of us seeks to know God more intimately and abide by His will for our lives. Faith is confidence. Faith is hope. Faith is assurance. Faith is put into action. Faith-works. Put your faith to work.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
Marty Pressey 