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.
4 comments:
Blogger was playing sillybuggers last night, and I now cannot remember whether I managed to post this coment or not. If so, and it's just awaiting Your review, then pray forgive me and delete it.
Sorry, G, but I disagree with James and Franikins, and implicitly with Yourself, on this point.
IMHO there is a valid distinction, which James fudges, between being willing but unable to act upon the impulse of faith (e.g. because one is blind among illiterates, or in a train speeding past the accident scene), and being able but unwilling to act (e.g. not giving first aid for fear of muddying one's trousers). The former is tepidly praiseworthy, the latter reprehensible.
For my money, Milton was right in On his blindness: They also serve who only stand and wait - if that is indeed what You require of them, then waiting is the fulfilment, the acting out, of their faith.
I inspired the author to write this particular scripture in the hopes that those people who read it, and claim faith in Me, would do more than to simply declare their faith. Although salvation comes (partly) through faith and faith is vital to salvation, I want active soldiers in My army of believers, not just armchair followers. I don’t have much use for people that declare salvation but don’t do a thing to promote peace, love, tranquility, or they otherwise do nothing to help their fellow man.
As with another scripture that emphasizes this:
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18
So sayeth the Great I am.
I've re-read the post, and must agree that You were right. I was reading into it my own discomfort with having abandoned friends and colleages in their hour of need (speaking only of work, fortunately) due to illness, and the words that I put into their minds excoriating my absence.
To claim faith without ever acting, is nothing.
If they are truly friends as you say, I'm sure they understand. And I hope you are feeling better too. Just think, next time you have that same virus come your way, you'll be immune from its' effects! There is always a silver lining somewhere.
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