James 2: Faith in Action
How do you feel when you pass someone with a sign standing on the corner? Do you ignore them or are you moved by compassion and action?
These have been an insightful few weeks as we have crept along in the book of James. James, the half-brother of Jesus, is writing to the dispersed church. This group of believers was scattered during intense persecution, beginning with the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7).
James once again explains the upside-down kingdom of God, this time confronting the church's favoritism toward certain believers:
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old 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?
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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 dishonored the poor… If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right… (James 2:1-8, NIV).
James is calling this group of believers to maturity. He reminds them that their favoritism toward the wealthy over the poor is not part of God's kingdom. James reframes this group's understanding of God's kingdom, showing that it is very different from the kingdom of this earth. There is a tendency to elevate and show favoritism to wealthy, well-off believers over those who are poor.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." This humility is not directly tied to station in life or wealth; however, at times there is a direct correlation between this type of submission and dependence on God, due to an individual's posture of the heart. They are not reliant on their own abilities and control but have surrendered that control to God. This yielding and humility are key attributes of the kingdom. So, James is calling out the church for elevating a person's worth or for prejudice toward an individual based on perceived wealth. This has no place in the kingdom!
James then explains further, in chapter 2, to the church why faith without action is, in fact, a dead faith. Both are failures to act on love for neighbor:
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 …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. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder… (James 2:14-19, NIV).
Although this letter seems harsh, James is calling these believers to a new kind of maturity. They cannot merely get along by talking and meeting together without taking action in their newfound faith! How often do we try to do that very thing?
Let me show you what this looked like in my own home. One of my sons is full of compassion and has a gift of mercy. Where we live, there is a part of the outskirts of town near the interstate where homeless people will hold signs up on the corner asking for money. Every week, we pass people on this corner. A few weeks ago, my son asked, “Mom, why is that man homeless?” Followed by “How can someone not have a home?” I wanted to respond as a former employee of a homeless shelter, saying we should offer food and direct them to a local food bank or shelter for further assistance. However, that answer was not good enough for my 7-year-old.
He has decided to put together hygiene kits with fast-food gift cards for the homeless. I decided my contribution would be purchasing the items for the kits and writing contact cards for local non-profits each person could contact for further assistance. The kids want to write scripture letters for each person who receives a kit, so they know God loves them.
Sometimes, being the hands and feet of Christ is inconvenient. It is easier to ignore the person on the corner and be too busy to stop or offer Christ's love by providing a hygiene kit with daily necessities. If I am honest, if it weren't for a curious, compassionate little boy who was moved enough to ask questions, I would probably have continued with my busy task list and moved on. That is humbling to type out, but it is real.
God isn't in the business of convenience. He is in the people business, and if we want to be contributors to the kingdom, we have to have the same mindset.
This week, when you pass by the person on the corner, I would encourage you to find one way to put your faith into action. Do not be like the person who says, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed” and does nothing. Although giving financially is a great option for any ministry, I would encourage you to ask God what one practical way you can love your neighbor as yourself by honoring someone who may be seen as less than and loving them with Christ-like love. (Keep snack bags in the car, learn one person's name at a regular corner, volunteer an hour at a shelter)