James 2:14-17

Passage

What benefit, my brothers and sisters, is there if someone says to have faith but he should not have works?  Is faith powerful enough to save him?  If a brother or sister should be in the circumstance of being poorly clothed while being in lack of food for the day and one out of you should say to him, “Go in peace, be warm, and be filled,” but not giving to them the essential things of the body, what is the benefit?  Thus also faith – if it should not have works – is dead by itself.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the beginning of this passage we have a confusing question.  James asks, “Is faith powerful enough to save him?”  I might be accused of skirting the issue here, but I think James is making a profound point.  Can any of our faith save us?  Is it not the faithfulness of Jesus Christ on the cross that saves us?  Does not Jesus Christ come into our life to transform us?  Therefore, I think James is really causing us to look at any place in our life where we have “faith” but are not lead to bear fruit through our actions.  Such places are not Christ’s faithfulness that is within us but rather it is our own “faith.”  Don’t get me wrong, but I don’t put any stock in human faith.  I haven’t seen anything that humans can do or built or make that can stand the test of time.  My faith cannot save me.  The faithfulness of Christ on the cross can save me!  His faithfulness always produces fruit in me.

Are you leaning upon Christ’s faithfulness and thus bearing fruit?  Or are you leaning upon your own faithfulness and fooling yourself into thinking that you are faithful?

Second Thought:

Talk is cheap.  That is James’ point in the middle of this passage.  Anyone can say, “Have a great day!” to someone in need.  It costs us nothing to wish a person well.  It also typically doesn’t change that person.  A few kind words might evoke a smile or a temporary feeling.  But true transformation in another person usually takes sacrifice on behalf of another.

What have others sacrificed to bring about transformation in you?  What have you sacrificed to bring about transformation in others?

Third Thought:

Verse 17 is one of the most confusing verses and often ill-quoted.  Many people lift up this verse and say that Paul and James teach a contrary doctrine.  We’ll get more into this tomorrow.  However, when James says “faith is dead by itself” James is not speaking in a salvific sense.  Faith – that is, Christ’s faithfulness – is what saves us.  That is what Paul argues in his letters over and over again.  What James is talking about here in this context is one person’s faith kindling faith in another: otherwise known as evangelism.  While Paul speaks of faith in respect to salvation, James speaks of faith in terms of evangelism.  Here we can assuredly see James’ point.  If I have all the faith God can give me but it has no impact upon my life, why would anyone else ever choose to listen to or be amazed at the faith God has given to me?  Faith must be combined with meaningful fruit (action, results, deeds) in order for any evangelism efforts on my behalf to have any meaning to the world around me.

Are there any areas of your life where “faith is dead” – that is, areas where you have no fruit or works?  What can you do with respect to those issues?

Passage for Tomorrow: James 2:18-19