James 2:26 “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
Have you ever heard the story of a village that had experienced a long period of drought and the villagers decided to pray about it? If not, here goes…The villagers we strong believers and when the elders decided on praying for rain, they were ready and willing. They decided to pray on one of the sacred mountains. However, when the day of prayer came and the villagers were set to ascend on the mountain, only one young boy carried an umbrella!
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How many times do we pray in faith, but do not act as though God actually heard us? How many times do we cry to God to answer a certain prayer, but find our ‘own means’ immediately after the prayer? How many times do we complain about concerns that we have already prayed about? Faith without action is dead! Believing and praying is not enough, our actions must portray the faith that we profess.
Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Faith goes beyond what we can physically see, but it is an evidence that just as we can see physical things physically, so can we non-physical things. Faith is needed for what we can’t see and can’t touch. Also, faith is not a bare belief or intellectual understanding. It is a willingness to trust in, to rely on, and to cling to God’s promises in our lives. This is exactly what 2 Corinthians 5:7 says in other words “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Our faith should go hand in hand with our actions. James 2:18 says But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. Our actions portray the faith we profess. They go hand in hand. Without actions, then our faith is null and void. James 2:14-17 elaborates this very well:
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Faith enables us to overcome and gives us a vivid understanding of the world we cannot see. It gives us a chance to enjoy communion with God. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Therefore, our actions should match our faith, for with faith, everything is possible:
Mark 11:22-23 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
Next time you’re praying for rain, carry your umbrella!
