trbccoffeebreak

“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18 (ESV)

Since saying “I do” thirty-three years ago, my husband and I have moved a lot. We have belonged to nine different churches and it has been fascinating to identify the cultural differences and then watch how they play out in the activity of the church. Each of these churches were Bible-believing, Christ-honoring churches with the same core belief that we are saved through faith, not of own doing or as the result of works, that no one may boast. (Ephesian 2:8-9). Yet, each of these churches was known for the “works” they did within their respective communities. The works may have looked different, but they were always a visible part of the life of each church.

This is how James explains the relationship between faith and works. “But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works”. James 2:18 (ESV). Works are not the path to salvation, but rather evidence of saving faith. Because, there is another kind of faith, or belief, in God. James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” This is merely an intellectual faith—a nod to the existence of God, without trusting Him for salvation. This is what James calls dead faith, faith without works. (James 2:17)

I love the coffee cup analogy. If someone bumps into me while I am drinking coffee, what gets spilled? Coffee, right? Because that is what is in my cup. In the same way, when life bumps into us, whatever is in us is what spills out. If we have been filled with the Spirit of God through faith, then the fruit of the Spirit should be evident even in our messy works. But what if your cup isn’t quite full so nothing is spilling out? Doesn’t matter if you view your cup as “half full” or “half empty” because your cup is refillable! So keep filling your cup with Scripture, the knowledge of God’s grace towards us, and times of praise and worship, fellowshipping with the one true God. Then show your faith, by your grace-soaked works, to a world that desperately needs to see faith in action.

“Lord, help me diligently refill my cup with your love and grace so that those who bump into me today get splashed with You. And let my works be evidence of my saving faith in You.”

For His Glory

Ann Skalaski
TRBC Women’s Life