Daily Devotional – Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:17 (NKJV)
Every evening, there is at least one preacher trying to win souls in my neighborhood shopping centre. Among the listeners are beggars, the homeless, the hungry, the jobless and street children.
“God bless you,” the preacher says, as he ends his sermon. He leaves for home, his pockets heavy with offerings. Meanwhile, the homeless, hungry and hopeless people curl into their rags on the cold street and hope they can catch some sleep.
James addressed a similar problem in the 1st Century.
“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:15-16).
Jesus healed the sick and fed the hungry. He mourned with the grieving and even healed the dead. He took care of physical needs then addressed the spiritual ones.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, was echoing the Lord when he concluded, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17).
Would Jesus have been indifferent to the homeless and hopeless while preaching to them? Would we win more souls if we mixed our preaching with tangible acts of kindness to relieve the suffering of others?
Instead of just telling people “God bless you”, let us allow God to make us the blessing such people need. Let us remember that, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Jesus, show me a person who requires my tangible assistance. Make me a channel of blessing to others.
What is the place of kindness in Christian evangelism? Should we care about the physical and material needs of those we seek to lead to Jesus or our concern should be spiritual needs only? Please leave a comment.
Indeed it takes both faith and works to get anywhere in the christian life, doing is evidence that one believes.
That’s the only way true faith manifests, by good works.
Yes, we must go out there and touch the lives of the needy. Mere sermonizing is not effective.
It is actually time we went out and started taking care of peoples need as a church ,,we have had to many evangelical campaigns but little charity programes which are what the world needs right now .
Well-said, Charles. God bless you.
Hope u are fine…..so we are supposed adress physical neeeds then sermonizing come in …..how is it???
Duke, in your understanding, how is faith related to works? Do the contradict? Are the complementary? Is one better than the other? Let me know before I answer. This way we will help other readers.