A Faith That Works - Faith In Action Series

This week’s devotional was written by Abson Predestin Joseph in his book entitled, “The Letter of James (OneBook, Daily-Weekly).” We hope you will be encouraged.

James continues to challenge his audience to live out their Christian vocation in practical ways. He addresses the difference between dead faith and active faith. There are conceptual overlaps and affinities with some issues already discussed in the letter. He also uses similar rhetorical devices to persuade the audience about the issue at hand. He contrasts two kinds of faith. He provides a tangible example in the context of the believers’ relationships with each other and reiterates his point with his customary rhetorical questions and concluding statement.

James expands on the idea that believers need to ensure that right kinds of actions support their speech. He underscores the idea that true faith needs to be accompanied by appropriate acts of service. The primary question that James poses to the audience has economic implications. It sets the tone of the conversation. The question “What does it profit?” forms a sort of bookend around the discussion. It is an efficient way to drive home the point that he is making. James discusses the example as a hypothetical situation: “if someone says he has faith.” The same applies for the example he gave when addressing discrimination at the table earlier (v. 1). The question that he raises, “Can faith save him?” is framed in such a way that the expected answer is no.

The example he provides as case in point follows a similar pattern. The fact that language is hypothetical does not mean the example is not true tolife. The letter has already established that the audience comprises believers from different socioeco nomic backgrounds. The discussion takes for granted that the people claiming to have faith possess the means to address the needs of the destitute but fail to do so. “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled” are the right words to say in this case. They are words of blessing that relate to the plight of the destitute. However, James pushes against the notion that blessedness and shalom (peace) can happen without an active participation to make it so. Without the appropriate actions, these are empty words. What does it profit? Nothing! The words are meaningless, because there is no action. What does it profit? Nothing! The lack of action implies that the situation of the destitute believer has not improved. The illustration is a powerful object lesson for James’s exhortation to the audience. He wants them to possess an active faith. The text does not provide any clues as to why some believers approached right belief as sufficient; however, it is clear this posture created a situation that threatened the harmony and well-being of the community.

While the conversation is framed in hypothetical terms, it seems here that James is challenging those who have economic means, who recognize the plight of the destitute in their midst, but choose not to act on their behalf or care for them. James equates the emptiness and futility of right words devoid of appropriate actions to faith devoid of acts of service. It is dead and worthless faith!