Allow me to explain what I
mean by the title. I am not referring to
the belief held by some that “good works” somehow earn favor with God, as
though human effort alone could cause Him to overlook sin and shortcomings. Many have been taught the false doctrine that
self-achievement and moral behavior will gain God’s approval and secure a place
in heaven. They have been deceived into
believing that doing good on earth, in itself, is enough.
Scripture is clear that we are
not saved by works, lest anyone should boast, and that our righteousness is as
filthy rags in the sight of God. Our own
abilities and attempts to please God through good deeds are not the answer to
inheriting eternal life. It does not
work that way, no matter how much a person wishes it were so. Sadly, many have been led to believe this
lie, and because of that false teaching, they will one day stand before God
weighed in the balance and found wanting.
All their efforts to do good for personal gain will be inadmissible—void. Their works can never outweigh the blood
Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation.
Jesus Christ is the only way
to God Almighty—not good works. Any
teaching that suggests otherwise nullifies the sacrificial death of Christ, who
died for our sins. He alone is humanity’s
hope of salvation and the only way heaven can become our eternal home.
What I am actually referring
to in the title is the trust we place in God while using the intellect,
foresight, and understanding He has given us.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us make informed decisions and
guide us into all truth. He assists us
in accomplishing important matters where faith must be coupled with action.
James said it well in James
2:18: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I
will show you my faith by my works.”
Examples of this principle
include listening to sound advice from doctors, therapists, and trusted friends
who offer wise counsel—and then acting upon that advice. Doing goes hand in hand with believing. The work we do becomes evidence of genuine
faith.
James 2:15-17 says, “If a
brother of sister is naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say
unto them, depart in peace, be warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them
not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead,
being alone.”
Simply telling someone to “be
warmed” or “be filled” accomplishes nothing unless action accompanies the
words. We must do something to assist in
bringing about the miracle. That is
called “works.” Sitting on one’s laurels
rarely brings success when miracles are needed or expected.
I believe this applies to
nearly every area of life, including staying on top of our health instead of
saying, “What will be will be.”
Directives from doctors, taking prescribed medications, exercising, and
following other sound health practices should be taken seriously. This is faith coupled with works.
I am a firm believer in Psalm
37:23: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth
in his way.”
I am not saying God is unable
to perform miracles without our help—He absolutely can, and He often does. We have all heard testimonies from caregivers
and medical professionals who could not explain certain healings except to say,
“It must have been a miracle from God.”
Yet expecting miraculous answers to prayer without doing all we know to
do is like standing on the sidelines while hoping to win the game without ever
stepping onto the field.
This lack of action can weaken
trust and hinder progress. Believing,
and then doing what we know to do, is evidence of true faith.
This does not diminish the
fact that Christians should expect miracles when they pray for the sick, lay
hands on them, or fervently seek God in prayer believing for
breakthroughs. Nor does it lessen our
responsibility to do everything possible to support those prayers with action. The Bible says that “the effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
When we combine prayer with action, we are moving in faith.
Follow-through matters to
God. He wants us to trust Him
wholeheartedly, but He also wants us to leave passive inactivity outside the
door of faith and show our faith by our works.
I believe God desires to honor our petitions and grant us the desires of
our hearts.
There is another important
aspect of faith: we must not only “do,” but we must also “be” God’s voice to
those searching for peace in a world filled with confusion. If we do not tell people about the love of
Jesus and His power to set them free from the bondage of sin, who will?
Can we sit idly by while
hurting people perish without hearing the Good News that God forgives sin? God forbid.
We must move in faith, with
works following, positioning ourselves to be used as God’s hands extended to a
hurting world. Being God’s ambassadors
requires obedience. He expects His
children to be ready and willing to stand in the gap wherever there is need.
Romans 12:1 says, “I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.”
This Scripture beautifully
illustrates the partnership of faith and works—our reasonable service unto God.
Papa Boyd
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