We’ve all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words.” As I continue to explore the book of James alongside our church, let’s just get right into it. James hits on the idea of actions and words around verse 14. Our good deeds do not earn us salvation, but if we’re not trying to help others, then we’re not living out the Christian example we’ve been given. James says it like this: “...faith by itself isn’t good enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” He goes on to say, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”
We all know that I am not a Bible scholar and I have zero experience with theology. But as a layperson, I interpreted this as when you’ve decided to follow Christ, you can’t just do it by faith and by words. You can’t just see problems in the world and not try to step in and help. It doesn’t mean that by doing good works and deeds you get a gold star from Jesus or that you get moved up to the fast-pass line at the gates of Heaven. BUT as Christians, we’re called to do good works, to help others…it’s not really a suggestion, it’s a part of the life.
A lot of this chapter focuses on making sure that our words and actions match up…and reminding us that being a Christ-follower isn’t a sedentary thing, it requires us to be in action. I have a study Bible and it explains it like this: charitable deeds are an expression of faith and that saving faith results in actions which emulate God. Pastor Bobby said, “Your activity should change when your identity changes. When you become a brother or sister in Christ, you are called to a higher standard. When my identity is in Christ...my life turns from, ‘I want something from you, to I want something for you.’ Remember, I’m a doer, not just a hearer.”
Earlier in chapter 2, James tells us not to favor someone over someone else, because Scripture tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It doesn’t say to love one neighbor over another, or treat the rich neighbor better than the poor neighbor. We can’t just say we love our neighbors and then treat them as if we do not. Pastor Bobby said it like this: “What James is saying here is don’t profess faith in Christ and at the same time be a spiritual snob.” He later added, “James is trying to help us understand something so vital to this world. There are not different levels of people. There is God almighty and there is man.”
Pastor Bobby went on to say, “Sometimes hurry robs us of helping others. Slow down and see people.” That’s a good place to wrap up this week’s blog, I think. Whether we’re focusing on the idea of doing good works because it is reflective of Jesus, or whether we’re focusing on the fact that favoritism is not Biblical, the message is still the same. Love your neighbor. Even the ones that you have to really work to love. And man, sometimes it is hard. I know that even I make it hard for people to love me from time to time. Just remember what we’re all called to do as followers of Christ. As Pastor Bobby reminded us: “Identify people who need the Gospel. Invest into their life. Invite people into a relationship with Jesus.” It might not always make it easier, but it will always make it worth it.
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