Of Faith and Deeds
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith; I have deeds.
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
James 2:14-19,26
It has been said men live in deeds not in time. It should be this way for Christian as James said faith without deeds is dead.
People remember what we do, positive and negative. As Christians we cannot live our lives half heartedly the eternal resting place of others are depending on us.
The late reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Prayed,
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
In Judaism there is a term tzedakah, Rabbi Noah Weinberg describes it this way
The Hebrew word "tzedakah" is commonly translated as "charity" or "tithe." But this is misleading. "Charity" implies that your heart motivates you to go beyond the call of duty. "Tzedakah," however, literally means "righteousness" -- doing the right thing. A "tzaddik," likewise, is a righteous person, someone who fulfills all his obligations, whether in the mood or not.
As Christians we have an obligation to our fellow man. We must do all we can to introduce him Jesus Christ and the salvation only He can give. At the same time however we cannot expect anyone to even be interested in coming to Jesus if his basic needs are not met.
At the same time we cannot expect people to listen to us if we are not representing Jesus by our deeds and actions.
Over the years I have met many men and women who have told me they "are Christians and were proud of it." had they not told me in many cases I would not have known. These people attended church and followed the ritual but they still felt obligated to tell me they were Christians.
By contrast I have met men and women who have never said a word to me yet by their words and deeds I have know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are true believers in Christ.
It is this last group of men and women we need to copy.
Think about it.
About Me
Monday 26 December 2011
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Mercy
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2: 12,13
Now remember here that James is writing to believers. Giving them direction in how to live there life.
There is a quote from the Talmud that while not scripture recognized by Christians, I think exemplifies what James is saying it states.
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
I think its something we all need to think about. If we are to call ourselves Christians we need to live the life Christ would expect of us. We need to show mercy even to our enemies. Jesus did say love your enemies.
In all of our dealings we need to deal honourably and faithfully with our fellow man, so that they may see we are believers without us even saying a word.
Now remember here that James is writing to believers. Giving them direction in how to live there life.
There is a quote from the Talmud that while not scripture recognized by Christians, I think exemplifies what James is saying it states.
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
I think its something we all need to think about. If we are to call ourselves Christians we need to live the life Christ would expect of us. We need to show mercy even to our enemies. Jesus did say love your enemies.
In all of our dealings we need to deal honourably and faithfully with our fellow man, so that they may see we are believers without us even saying a word.
Friday 16 December 2011
Of Rich and Poor
Equality
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4
To quote a friend of mine “God don’t show favouritism nor should we.” My pastor when doing a sermon about the widows mite(Luke 21:1-4) once noted something about some television evangelist.
At the time there were a couple offering a nice plaque for contributions over a thousand or a hundred dollar donations. While people donating less got nothing. He noted that those who donated less than a hundred or a thousand dollars more than likely donated a larger percentage of their income to the ministry. He also noted that perhaps without realizing it they were showing favouritism.
It is important within our church that we not show favouritism of any kind.
“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2:5-7
According to James it is those who are poor in the eyes of the wold to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom of God.
For a poor person quite often their faith is all they have.
I think of believers in the third world. Many are so poor they have to rely on God for their next meal.
The same is true about some believers here in the west although we don’t really see it. It’s only when we look at the proliferation of food banks that we notice.
James notes that the rich exploit people. Drag the poor into court and even slander the name of Christ.
This is not to say all rich people are alike there are many wealthy people who spend vast portions of their wealth to help the poor and impoverished in this world.
However sadly there are those who do exploit the poor. Around the world we see sweat shops using child labour and low wages to better their bottom line.
It’s notable here in the west many companies that are doing well move their production facilities from areas where wages and benefits are good to areas where wages and benefits are less. All this in the name of profit.
Sadly some Christians invest in such companies, not taking an interest in what they are doing, only happy with the return on their money. Sadly also some of the executives of these companies who make the decisions do attend church claiming to be believers which they may very well be.
This portion of scripture is written to them as warning. James make it clear saying,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”
James 2: 8-11
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4
To quote a friend of mine “God don’t show favouritism nor should we.” My pastor when doing a sermon about the widows mite(Luke 21:1-4) once noted something about some television evangelist.
At the time there were a couple offering a nice plaque for contributions over a thousand or a hundred dollar donations. While people donating less got nothing. He noted that those who donated less than a hundred or a thousand dollars more than likely donated a larger percentage of their income to the ministry. He also noted that perhaps without realizing it they were showing favouritism.
It is important within our church that we not show favouritism of any kind.
“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2:5-7
According to James it is those who are poor in the eyes of the wold to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom of God.
For a poor person quite often their faith is all they have.
I think of believers in the third world. Many are so poor they have to rely on God for their next meal.
The same is true about some believers here in the west although we don’t really see it. It’s only when we look at the proliferation of food banks that we notice.
James notes that the rich exploit people. Drag the poor into court and even slander the name of Christ.
This is not to say all rich people are alike there are many wealthy people who spend vast portions of their wealth to help the poor and impoverished in this world.
However sadly there are those who do exploit the poor. Around the world we see sweat shops using child labour and low wages to better their bottom line.
It’s notable here in the west many companies that are doing well move their production facilities from areas where wages and benefits are good to areas where wages and benefits are less. All this in the name of profit.
Sadly some Christians invest in such companies, not taking an interest in what they are doing, only happy with the return on their money. Sadly also some of the executives of these companies who make the decisions do attend church claiming to be believers which they may very well be.
This portion of scripture is written to them as warning. James make it clear saying,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”
James 2: 8-11
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Don't just listen Act!
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:22-25
Practice what you preach. We can’t be simply listen to the word of God we in order to be effective witnesses for Christ need to be doer’s of the law every day of our lives. By doing this we are doing what we were created for, to serve God.
The individual in putting the word which he has heard into practice will also receive a blessing from God, or as James puts it, “he will be blessed in what he does”.
Remove the Moral Filth
Remove the Moral Filth
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1: 19-21
Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James is simply saying practice self control. Lashing out in anger does not bring about a righteous life. It more often than not causes us push people away from us.
James urges us to get rid of the “moral filth and evil” in our life. All of us wether we like to admit it or not have some kind of “filth” in our life that we need to be rid of.
It is essential that we do this and accept the word of God that has been given to us, for it is only the word of God that can save us.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1: 19-21
Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James is simply saying practice self control. Lashing out in anger does not bring about a righteous life. It more often than not causes us push people away from us.
James urges us to get rid of the “moral filth and evil” in our life. All of us wether we like to admit it or not have some kind of “filth” in our life that we need to be rid of.
It is essential that we do this and accept the word of God that has been given to us, for it is only the word of God that can save us.
Monday 5 December 2011
Every Good Gift
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”
James 1:16-18
James makes it clear that we are not to be deceived. That “all good and perfect gift is from above coming from the Father of heavenly lights.”
Something we need to be thankful for everyday of our lives.
God the creator of the heavens gives good gifts to his children. God does not change like man or the world or the stars and the universe that he created. God is the same yesterday today and forever.
God chose to give us the rebirth through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
James here is stating emphatically to those early Christians they are the first of many that will follow.
Many things would come against Christianity, the Jewish religious leadership of the day, even the might of the Roman empire and it seems the might of many dictators and others throughout the centuries. Nevertheless it survived.
Those who have come against Christianity should have heeded the advice given by Gamaliel a Pharisee that had given wise advice to the Sanhedrin when Peter and the other Apostles had been brought before them in Acts chapter five, when it records in verses thirty-seven, thirty-eight,
“Therefore in the present case I advise you; Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
James 1:16-18
James makes it clear that we are not to be deceived. That “all good and perfect gift is from above coming from the Father of heavenly lights.”
Something we need to be thankful for everyday of our lives.
God the creator of the heavens gives good gifts to his children. God does not change like man or the world or the stars and the universe that he created. God is the same yesterday today and forever.
God chose to give us the rebirth through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.
James here is stating emphatically to those early Christians they are the first of many that will follow.
Many things would come against Christianity, the Jewish religious leadership of the day, even the might of the Roman empire and it seems the might of many dictators and others throughout the centuries. Nevertheless it survived.
Those who have come against Christianity should have heeded the advice given by Gamaliel a Pharisee that had given wise advice to the Sanhedrin when Peter and the other Apostles had been brought before them in Acts chapter five, when it records in verses thirty-seven, thirty-eight,
“Therefore in the present case I advise you; Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Temptation
Temptation
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15
Temptation does not come from God, because God by his very nature is Holy and therefore cannot be turned away by temptation.
Man however can be tempted by his own evil desire. We as humans have an innate tendency to sin. Let’s face it sin can feel good. Still we all don’t just sin. We first have desires that are wrong. Those desires cause us to sin, which lead to spiritual death. Eternal separation from God.
We need to be on the look out for wrong desires that lead us to sin and as soon as we see them we need to be asking God to save us from the temptation we are being pulled into and forgive us for any wrong we may have done.
“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15
Temptation does not come from God, because God by his very nature is Holy and therefore cannot be turned away by temptation.
Man however can be tempted by his own evil desire. We as humans have an innate tendency to sin. Let’s face it sin can feel good. Still we all don’t just sin. We first have desires that are wrong. Those desires cause us to sin, which lead to spiritual death. Eternal separation from God.
We need to be on the look out for wrong desires that lead us to sin and as soon as we see them we need to be asking God to save us from the temptation we are being pulled into and forgive us for any wrong we may have done.
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