“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:26
Faith Works – A James 2 Devotional
Chapter one gave us an overview of the ideas that James taught, and then James dives in a little deeper to each idea starting in chapter two. He shows how our internal faith in God is worked out practically in everyday life. How faith works.
At the close of chapter one, James instructs us that “Pure religion and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27)
Chapter two expands on this thought with some ideas that echo the Golden Rule that Jesus taught:
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:21 (NASB)
No Favoritism
In church, we should never play favorites. In the world, the wealthy and powerful are treated with more respect and deference than those in poverty. When a person you meet has something that can help you (money, abilities, or power), it is easy to treat them well. However, when that person has nothing to offer you or is dirty and doesn’t smell good, it is not in our nature to show them deference.
A New Nature
The good news is that God has given us a new nature. As we learn to live into that new nature, we have to apply what Jesus said to our everyday lives. Part of that is how we treat other people.
“My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 1:1-5
When we treat everyone like we would like to be treated regardless of what they can offer us, we are showing them how Jesus would treat them. Not only fulfilling the Golden Rule, but also what Jesus called the greatest commandment.
The Greatest Commandment
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”” Mark 12:30-31
Resisting the urge to show favoritism is loving your neighbor as yourself.
One Sin or Many – Still a Sinner
James completes the instructions on not showing favoritism with a note that showing favoritism is a sin. And, by extension, anyone who shows favoritism is a sinner. It doesn’t matter what the sin is, when we commit even one sin (whether we think it is big or small), we are sinners and separated from a holy God.
“For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.” James 2:10
Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment
Almost all of the rest of the chapter is about the mingling of two parts of Christianity: Faith and Works. However, in between James admonishing about the sin of favoritism and the section on faith and works, there are two verses:
“Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:12-13
These two verses actually make more sense than it seems at first. The first half of the chapter is about how we are to treat others – with mercy – no matter what their station in life is. The second half is how we live out our faith through our works – by treating others with mercy.
God’s Mercy
The two verses connect the two halves of the chapter with a beautiful picture of how the mercy of God triumphs over judgment. We deserve judgment from God because even if we have only committed one tiny sin, we are guilty of all sin. And yet, God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to earth to make a way for us to reconciled to Him. His mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith with Works
When James starts talking about faith and works, he uses Abraham as an example.
“You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:22-23
When Abraham believed God, he acted on that belief. He took action by obeying what God told him to do. His belief was demonstrated through his actions, his works.
Bearing Fruit Proves the Tree is Alive
If a fruit tree is healthy and alive, it bears fruit. In the same way, if our faith is alive, it bears works in step with that faith. Put another way, if our internal faith life is right, our actions will show it.
Action Step:
Time to take a little assessment: How are you living out your faith in practical ways?
Is there someone to whom you can show kindness today? Especially if that person has nothing to offer you and no benefit will come of your kindness to them.
Is there mercy that you can extend to someone who has hurt you? Can you restrain from delivering judgment to someone who deserves it and show mercy instead?
How would you wish to be treated today? Let’s choose one person and make a difference today!
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to live out our faith practically through works, especially how we treat others, no matter how much or how little they have. Help us to show mercy liberally and to draw closer and closer to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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