James 2:17-18, a Faithful and Faith-Filled life

James 2:17-18 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (NKJV)

One of the best examples of faith that I have seen comes from a film. In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the hero must walk “the path of faith” at one point over a gaping chasm. Indiana Jones must take each step across this gulf not able to see the walkway beneath him due to an optical illusion. When he makes it across he can see the bridge he just crossed.  Life is like that and faith is like that. The more I look at this verse the less I think that the works and deeds that James is talking about are the good things like feeding the poor and clothing the naked.  What I see James writing about is an intellectual faith that knows something, but never puts it into practice. We know that we are saved by grace through faith. We know that God has asked us to take care of the sick, the poor, the needy, the imprisoned, etc. We know all this, and for the most part it isn't really very difficult to do it. After all, Christ did so much for us that doing this isn't a hardship. Those sort of deeds flow naturally from a faithful heart to Christ.

A Faith-filled heart walks in faith constantly. The Faith-Filled heart knows that God has asked such-and-such of it and though it does not seem that it is achievable or capable, this heart knows that God would not ask us for something unless He was going to provide the means. Then one step at a time, stepping out in faith to do the work that God has set, the Faith-Filled heart finds its way across the chasm barring the way (oftentimes the chasm of “reality” or “common sense”).

One of the prime examples of a Faith-Filled heart was George Muller, who felt God calling him to take care of orphans. Obstacle after obstacle blocked the way, but by prayer George Muller continued on, It was through his works in faith that he was able to spend his life taking care of not one or two, but over two thousand orphans every year, never asking for money or donations, but instead praying for God to provide and God always did whether it was for food for the children or for workmen to repair the boiler, God provided.

What I have found is this, that faith that is acted upon, despite impossibilities or improbabilities is true and real faith, faith that is alive. That is what James means when he talks about faith by itself, with no “works” to accompany it being dead. That faith is never used, it is never acted upon, it is never lived with.

So this week, let us all take a look at our faith and see if we are living a faithful and faith-filled life. If we find we are not, lets pray and ask that we be shown how to live by faith, real faith, and that our dead faith will come alive.

I care not today what the morrow may bring,
If shadow or sunshine or rain,
The Lord I know ruleth o’er everything,
And all of my worries are vain.

Living by faith in Jesus above,
Trusting, confiding in His great love;
From all harm safe in His sheltering arm,
I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.
                                                     James Wells, 1918.