James 2:26 (NLT) says, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works”.
This is a life and death situation! We would so freak out if we were suddenly made aware that we could not breathe. We would freak out because we would be dead in a matter of minutes without breath in our bodies. My question is this: What would happen if through what ever avenue, you were suddenly made aware of the fact that you claimed to have faith but no good works to follow. I am guilty of this at times. Am I as freaked out by this notion as I am the realization that I cannot breathe? If I am not … I certainly should be! Because according to God’s word, what faith I have is as good as dead without good works to accompany. Good works is to faith as breath is to life. There is no escaping that fact.
Just to be clear though, good works are not what gets us to heaven. We cannot work ourselves into heaven, contrary to what some would have you believe. It is not the missing ingredient in the salvation formula or anything like that. The formula for salvation is one thing… Jesus Christ. It is the belief and acceptance in the heart of man that a personal relationship is possible with God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is salvation!
However, good works (serving others just as Jesus served others) is a crucial part of the formula of personal transformation and sustainable life change. You see, the reason God wants us to have good works in our lives is not to benefit him. He is still God, the creator of the universe without our silly good works. His motivation for our good works is pure and complete love for humanity (us). It is so others can experience the love of God in a real, tangible, and transparent way through our good works. Our service is a reflection of His love! Oh yeah…to top it all off, it benefits me as well. Faith produces good works and good works produces more and deeper faith. This cycle is unending when put into practice and completely revolutionary to our lives. So what are you waiting for? If you have any faith at all there is no use in letting it suffocate.
Go use your faith to do some thing good for someone today in the name of love. Smile at a stranger and say hello when you would normally act like you were busy or look down as you pass by. Help a person to their car with groceries. That struggling mom at the grocery store with the three wild kids… tell her what an amazing person she is and thank her for being a mother to her children. Let the older gentlemen behind you in line go in front of you. Help a neighbor with an outside chore in this busy season of getting the yard back in shape. Cook a meal for those neighbors you have yet to connect with. You get the idea here… “Do unto others…” Start a love revolution. It may start small but who knows where is could go from one small act of kindness.
