James 2:20-24
The following is a passage from A Faith That Is Real, by Dan Owens (page 91-93)
In Mark 9:17-27, a father who loved his son very much was in agony. For some reason his son could not speak. His child was plagued by epileptic seizures, which caused him to convulse on the floor and foam at the mouth. He had taken his son to Jesus' disciples, and they could not help him. It seemed that there was no hope for the boy.
But then this distraught father brought his son to see Jesus. Jesus asked how long the boy had been that way; the father told him the evil spirit causing the seizures had been with the boy since childhood. He said that the spirit often threw the boy into the fire or into water. "Take pity on us and help us," the father pleaded (2:22).
Jesus told the man that everything is possible for him who believes. Immediately, the father answered, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (2:24).
Have you ever called out, "God, help me in my unbelief"? When the father asked Jesus, "Can you help us?" he used the word help that means "instantaneous help." He wanted his son cured right away. But the second time he used the word help, it was the word that means "a continuous help." He was saying, "Lord, I believe, but I need you to help me keep growing, because my faith is so small."
Not only do we need faith at the point of salvation, we also need it in our daily living. Every morning that we wake up we need faith, so that we can abide with Jesus in every situation we encounter.
Faith Is Made Complete By Works
Someone once said, "We can't choose our relatives, but we can choose our thoughts, and those influence us much more."
James is pointing out in this passage that faith must be accompanied by action. Talk is cheap. Anybody can say, "Yes, I'm a Christian," without having any evidence to back it up. No growth, no change, no renewal.
James uses this illustration. Suppose a person comes to us, naked and hungry, and we give the typical Jewish response, "Go in peace!" What have we really done for that needy individual?
When we see someone with a need, what do we say to him or her? "I'll be praying for you," is a typical response. James says that's not enough. If we are truly followers of Jesus, when we see a brother or sister in need, we have to do something about that need.
James brings up Abraham. If you know the story, you will remember that God came to Abraham and asked him to present his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham proceeded to do as God asked, and in the end God saved his son (see Genesis 22:1-18). James says about Abraham, "His faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did" (2:22).
James concludes that "a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone" (2:24). Wait a minute! Is he directly contradicting what Paul teaches? Actually James is using the word justified in a different way. Besides meaning to be proven right or just, the word can also mean "that aspect of judgment," as in Matthew 12:37 where Jesus says, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (NASB).
Abraham's faith was judged by his actions. When God asked him to do what seemed unthinkable, he did it. Abraham proved his faith by his works. How could Abraham be willing to give up his only son? One reason is that he had great thoughts about God.
Faith Begins and Ends with Thoughts about God
As we read through the books of Psalms, we see God's greatness, his power, his love, his presence, his majesty, and his compassion; it causes our thoughts about God to continue to grow. How do we have faith? By having big thoughts about God. By understanding what he is capable of doing.
Our thoughts are really what drives our faith. Someone has said, "You are not what you think you are. What you think, you are." That is so true when it comes to how we view God.
Gandhi had a favorite saying regarding the Christians of Great Britain. He said. "If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today."(1) The way we live reveals what we believe about God. It shows whether we have big thoughts or small thoughts about God.
Thoughts run through our heads all day long. We create ideas, images, and scenarios about how our lives will go. In our minds, we have also created an image of God. Our faith begins and ends with our thoughts about him.
A person can live without air for a few minutes, without water for a few days, and without food for a few weeks. Sadly, though, we can live year after year without having a new thought about God and about his greatness and majesty.
How could Abraham raise up that knife to kill his son? He had great thoughts about God. I wonder - how great are our thoughts about God?
For Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
"Every morning that we wake up we need faith, so that we can abide with Jesus in every situation we encounter." What situations in your life this week require Jesus' continuing help in your unbelief?
"If we are truly followers of Jesus, when we see a brother or sister in need, we have to do something about that need." What people in your life need you to care for their needs? What will you do today to care for those needs?
God Bless You,
Dan
(1) Mahatma Gandhi. Quoted in http://www.thinkexist.com/English/Author/x/Author_3569_6.htm.
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