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hat doth it profit, my brethren, though a man
say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart
in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my
faith by my works. 19 Thou believest
that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works
is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified
by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made perfect? 23 And the
scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed
unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and
not by faith only. 25 Likewise also
was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the
messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(James 2:14-26)
When Martin
Luther set out on the work which shook the world his friend Myconius expressed
sympathy. "But," he said, "I can best help where I am. I will
remain and pray while you toil." Myconius prayed day by day, but as he
prayed he began to feel uncomfortable. One night he had a dream. He thought the
Saviour himself approached and showed him his hands and feet. He saw the
fountain in which he had been cleansed from sin. Then looking earnestly into
his eyes the Saviour said, "Follow me." The Lord took him to a lofty
mountain and pointed eastward. Looking in that direction Myconius saw a plain
stretching away to the horizon. It was dotted with white sheep—thousands and
thousands of them. One man was trying to shepherd them all. The man was Luther.
The Saviour pointed Westward. Myconius saw a great field of standing corn. One
reaper was trying to harvest it all. The lonely laborer was spent and
exhausted, but still he persisted in his task. Myconius recognized in the
solitary reaper his old friend Luther. "It is not enough," said
Myconius when he awakened, "that I should pray. The sheep must be
shepherded; the fields must be reaped. Here am I; send me." And he went
out and shared his old friend's labors” —The Fiery Crags, by Boreham - Knight's Master Book of New
Illustrations
The illustration
above reveals the sharp difference in those (many of the modern caste)
theologians who differ on the argument of work, or faith. It is really a red
herring to draw a distinct difference for it cannot be done in all truth. Are
we saved by works? Not at all – no one who is acquainted with the atoning death
of our Lord and Savior could believe that. Then are we saved by a faith that
bears no fruit? Neither could a faithful Christian believe that. Faith and
works are interlocked inseparably in the election and calling in Christ. The
greater proportion of the ministry of Jesus was one of continual good works.
Even in those He called to follow Him, Christ sought out those who were busy as
fishermen, as customs collectors, publicans, and common laborers. Remarkably,
we have a vivid example of this fact in Matthew: 18 And
Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow
me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And
they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And
going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and
he called them. 22 And they
immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. (Matt 4:18-22)
It is noteworthy
these strong men of the sea responded without question, dropped their nets,
left their ships, and straightway followed Christ in a more demanding and
spiritually edifying work – that of fishing for the souls of men. God has
chosen each of us in the same manner. If the Holy Spirit has opened our
spiritual ears, we will have heard the Voice of the Master, “Come, and follow me!”
He may not tell us with immediate dispatch what work He has for us, but if we
follow Him, it will become brilliantly clear at the moment of action. But we
must all alike drop our nets, leave our vessels, and follow our Lord Jesus
Christ. In following Christ, we learn to do works of edification and healing
for others, of teaching and training, and of mercy and compassion.
Jesus related
many parables that set an example in good works. Remember the Parable of the
Good Samaritan? The driving force in the heart of the Good Samaritan was that
of COMPASSION! Compassion evokes action to help. When we see those who are
dying of hunger or disease, we must put ourselves in the place of that soul so
much so that we actually feel their hurt and hunger. Such compassion compels us
to act to alleviate that suffering.
In Paul’s
preaching to the Romans and others, he stressed grace over works. Why did he do
so? It was because there were many Jews intermixed with the multitudes who
believed themselves righteous under the terms of the Law. They were not, and
neither COULD they have been. They looked upon the outer appearance in judging
the quality of a vessel. Love had no place in their definition of
righteousness. But our Lord measured the heart – not only in its present
condition, but in what it could become in the hands of the Refiner of precious
metal.
James, on the
other hand, was preaching to those outside the boundaries of Jewish religion.
These had come to believe that outward faith was, in and of itself, altogether
sufficient. There are many today who believe that one only needs to make a
public profession of faith at the altar and they are bona fide Christians
without further teaching or nurturing in the faith. Oftentimes, the poor sinner
making such a public profession has no idea who the Lord to whom he pledges
allegiance is, or what He has done for him. If we are to enter into a contract,
we need to read it carefully with understanding, and we need to know with whom
we contract. James is not saying that we are not saved by grace through faith;
but that we are saved by a fervent faith unto good works. The good works are
witness to the sterling nature of our faith.
Jesus taught of
a Sower who went forth to sow; of the woman who took three measures of meal
into which she mixed leaven; or the man who sought out goodly pearls until he
found the Pearl of Great Price. All these were related to WORK. The measure of
our faith is in what good works that faith leads us to accomplish. It may begin
with a burden to feed the poor (both spiritual and physical hunger). That
burden grows in the heart and is refined by faith until action is the result.
ACTION is what the Lord desires. He never called a listless bum to follow Him
unless that bum was changed to a diligent laborer in the fields white for
harvest.
Work for the
Kingdom of Heaven is an honor and a privilege. In actuality, if we work for
Christ, we are enjoying a continual Sabbath, for all of our good works result
from His working in our members. It is Christ that works in and through us His
purpose to satisfy: Whereunto I also
labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Col 1:29) And the
work of grace in us was not our initiation, but His: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Phil 1:6) He is not
only the Sovereign who calls us to the work, and initiates the good works; but
also the Finisher of the good works.
In
every calling, whether medicine, education, engineering, ministry, law, or
whatever else, God will work through us for His own glory. Here is a fitting
illustration of the point: “In a large metropolitan hospital there is a surgeon
who insists upon having a moment alone before entering the operating room.
Because of his great skill many of the younger doctors wondered if there might
be a relation between his success and this unusual habit. When one of the
interns put the question to the surgeon, he answered: "Yes, there is a
relationship, a very close one. Before each operation I ask the great Physician
to be with me, to guide my hands in their work. There have been times when I
didn't know what to do next, and then came a power to go on—power which I know
comes from God. I would not think of performing an operation without asking
God's help." The surgeon's story spread throughout the country, and one
day a father brought his little daughter to the hospital, insisting that the
doctor who "worked with God" should operate on his child.” —Quiet
Hour
I
believe we would all prefer a doctor, who may have graduated a state
university, and who trusts in the Lord, to operate on the darling of our souls
over one who with cold calculation and in depth technical knowledge performed
his medical practice – even if he were a graduate, Summa Cum Laude, of Harvard
Medical School. It is love that drives the soul in good works for Christ. As
Paul observes: 14 For when the Gentiles, which
have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having
not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which
shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing
one another;) 16 In the day when
God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:14-16)
The
most important work of construction is the foundation. That is an important
work: 11 For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now
if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's
work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet
so as by fire. (1
Cor 3:11-15)
