Bible Study February 19, 2025
James 2:14 – 17 (TLB)
“My Faith Says I Will Serve”
“Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? 15 If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, 16 and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do? 17 So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.”
James speaks of faith being put into action and helping others in need. Doing what the scriptures teach is absolutely essential to our faith walk. He even speaks to this in the previous two verses. “You will be judged on whether or not you are doing what Christ wants you to. So watch what you do and what you think; 13 for there will be no mercy to those who have shown no mercy. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you.”
How do we see this in light of the teaching about faith throughout the New Testament? Is James replacing faith with works in these words? These verses say definitely “No.”
He answers that question saying Christian faith is necessary and of its nature requires our works to be pleasing to God. I have often wondered why churches are inwardly focused when they should be outwardly focused and striving to help one another.
Have we become “to big” in ourselves to serve others maybe in some cases we are waiting to be served. I remember when attending Cornerstone Church in West Chester, Ohio we took a Sunday and rather than worship we did things in the community. Some delivered flowers, some washed windows, it was a time to serve. I thought at the time it seemed different but rewarding it was.
As believers we must put our faith into action by serving. Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (NIV. Can we find a better example?
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 