Faith in action emphasizes that genuine Christian faith manifests through deeds, not mere words or beliefs alone. It underscores the necessity of practical service and active obedience as evidence of true trust in God (James 2:17). Illustrations often use images of work, service, and tangible expressions of faith to show how belief is proven by life and actions (James 2:18).
True Christianity requires active deeds, not just mere belief or discussion.
The world is full of nominal Christians-but how many are Christians in deed? The Bible makes it clear that mere belief is not enough. A United States Senator recently quoted a very moving, yet indicting poem, "Listen Christian!" (by Bob Rowland), which reads as follows:
Zeal for the Lord motivates wholehearted service and peak performance.
The Bible provides a sound basis for enthusiasm. Here is how the Apostle Paul states it: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and NOT unto man" (Colossians 3:23); "always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58); "zealous unto good works" (Titus 2:14); "Your zeal hath encouraged many" (2 Corinthians 9:2). In Revelation the Apostle John commanded the Laodiceans to be "zealous, therefore, and repent" (Revelation 2:19). It is interesting that "zeal" and "zealous" come from a Greek word which means "to boil; seethe." An enthusiastic person boils inside; it spills over to peak performance. The wise man stated it in these words, "Whatsoever thy hands findeth to do, do it with all thy might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Some people verbalize their inability to be enthusiastic. I don't believe there is a person who hasn't been excited or enthusiastic about something. A raise in salary, an award, vacation, promotion, birth of a child, opportunity, or some other event in life creates zeal by its very nature. What we need in the church is enthusiasm for the mission God has given His people. This guarantees peak performance.
Christianity requires practical action combined with prayer, not prayer alone.
Christianity must be practical. Two children were afraid they would be late for school. One said, "Let's kneel down and pray to God that He may help us not to be late." The other child offered a more practical solution: "No, let's run and pray at the same time."
True faith acts consistently, trusting God's promises beyond immediate results.
A Christian farmer was constantly jeered at by a non-Christian because he would not work on Sunday, went to church, and gave his tithes to the Lord's work. At the end of a poor harvest season the non-Christian said to him, "Where is your God? He has certainly failed you, hasn't He?" "Oh, no," the Christian said, "my God does not close His books at the end of the harvest season." The Rich Employer Peter Eldersveld tells of a rich Christian who had a large company of employees, and many of them owed him money. He was constantly trying to teach them something about Christianity, and one day he hit upon a plan. He posted a notice for his employees to see that said, "All those who will come to my office between eleven and twelve o'clock on Thursday morning to present an honest statement of their debts will have them canceled at once." The debtors read the notice with a great deal of skepticism, and on Thursday morning, although they gathered in the street in front of his office, not one of them went to the door. Instead they gossiped and complained about their employer, and ridiculed the notice he had posted. They said it didn't make sense. But finally, at 11:45, one man jumped forward, dashed up the steps into the office, and presented his statement. "Why are you here?" the rich man asked him. "Because you promised to cancel the debts of all those who would come as you instructed," the other replied. "And do you believe the promise?" "Yes, I do." "Why do you believe it?" persisted the employer. "Because, although it was too much for me to understand, I know that you are a good man who would not deceive anyone." The rich man took the bill and marked it "Paid in full," at which time the poor man, overcome, cried out, "I knew it! I told them so! They said it couldn't be true, and now I'm going out to show them." "Wait," said his benefactor, "it's not quite twelve o'clock. The others are not entitled to any special proof of my sincerity." When the clock struck twelve, the forgiven debtor ran out waving his receipt in the face of his fellows. With a mad rush they made for the door, but it was too late. The door was locked.
Daily small acts of faithfulness are more useful than rare great deeds.
It is the bubbling stream that flows gently; the little rivulet which runs along day and night by the farm-house, that is useful, rather than the swollen flood or warring cataract. Niagara excites our wonder; and we stand amazed at the powerful greatness of God there, as he pours in from the hollow of his hand. But one Niagara is enough for the continent of the world, while the same world requires thousands and tens of thousands of silver fountains and gently flowing rivulets that water every farm and meadow, and every garden, and shall flow on every day and night with their gentle, quiet beauty. So with the acts of our lives. It is not by great deeds, like those of the martyrs, good is to be done, but by the daily and quiet virtues of life.
— Rev. Albert Barnes
Persistent, energetic ministry can accomplish great spiritual impact over a lifetime.
Dr. Adam Clarke said that "the old proverb about having too many irons in the fire was an abominable old lie. Have all in it,—shovel, tongs, and poker." Wesley said, "I am always in haste, but never in a hurry: leisure and I have long taken leave of each other." He travelled about five thousand miles in a year; preached about three times a day, commencing at five o'clock in the morning; and his published works amounted to about two hundred volumes. Asbury travelled six thousand miles a year, and preached incessantly. Coke crossed the Atlantic eighteen times, preached, wrote, travelled, established missions, begged from door to door for them, and labored in all respects as if, like the apostles, he would "turn the world upside down." At nearly seventy years of age he started to Christianize India.
— Dr. Stevens
Knowing God watches motivates us to greater diligence in spiritual service.
Were the Olympian Agonists inspired by the admiring gaze of applauding thousands? Did the thunders of acclamation which awoke the echoes of Olympus excite the Athletes to higher energies? How, then, shall we be affected, who believe that we are under the watchful eye of the Dread Supreme? The King looks on those who are running the heavenly race, who are wrestling with spiritual antagonists, and who are handing "a cup of cold water" to some drooping and thirsty disciple! As the King's eye brightens with approbation, let us resolve to climb the highest steps of duty, and to walk on the loftiest mountains of holy enterprise. Dr. J. Parker.
Active faith invites Christ's presence; idleness leads to spiritual loss and separation.
If we travel slowly, and loiter on the road, Jesus will go on before us, and sin will overtake us. If we are dilatory and lazy in the vineyard, the Master will not smile on us when he walks through his garden. Be active, and expect Christ to be with thee: be idle, and the thorns and briars will grow so thickly, that he will be shut out of thy door. Spurgeon.
Faith must be applied to benefit from God's mercies for our sinful hearts.
As it is no advantage for a wounded man to have the best medicine lying by his side, unless it is applied to his wound; so little do the mercies of God profit us, unless we have faith to apply them to our sinful hearts. Caudray.
Among gifts and loyalty, good works are most highly valued and exalted.
A king sent three subjects through his dominions with instructions to do what each thought would please him most. The first collected curiosities; the second discoursed eloquently of the glory of his prince; the third went everywhere doing good. Each returned, and made his report. Each received praise. The curiosities were soon lost; the loyalty of the second was prized; but the last, for his good works, was exalted above the others.
Even small faith can have great impact, like a tiny light setting a fire or guiding reading.
A man once said, "I have no more influence than a farthing rushlight."—"Well," was the reply, "a farthing rushlight can do a good deal: it can set a haystack on fire; it can burn down a house: yea, more, it will enable a poor creature to read a chapter in God's book. Go your way, friend: let your farthing rushlight so shine before men, that others, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is heaven."
A man's struggle with covetousness shows the battle between natural man and faith.
An illiberal Christian was listening to a charity-sermon. He was nearly deaf, and was accustomed to sit facing the congregation, right under the pulpit, with his ear-trumpet directed upward, towards the preacher. The sermon moved him considerably. At one time, he said to himself, "I'll give ten dollars:" again, he said, "I'll give fifteen." At the close of the appeal, he was very much moved, and thought he would give fifty dollars. Now the boxes were passed. As they moved along, his charity began to ooze out. He came down from fifty to twenty, to ten, to five, to zero. He concluded that he would not give any thing. "Yet," said he, "this won't do: I am in a bad fix. My hopes of heaven may be in this question. This covetousness will be my ruin." The boxes were getting nearer and nearer. The crisis was upon him. What should he do? The box was now under his chin: all the congregation were looking. He had been holding his pocket-book in his hand during this soliloquy, which was half audible, though, in his deafness, he did not know that he was heard. In the agony of the final moment, he took his pocket-book, and laid it in the box, saying to himself as he did it, "Now squirm, old natur!"
— Presbyterian
True Christian faith involves actively engaging in spiritual battle, not just maintaining appearances.
It is not a man's part merely to keep his armor bright; to hang around the edge of the fight, and, whenever he sees it bulging out towards him, to retreat to a hill, and, if any dust has fallen upon his armor, to set to work at once to brush it off. It is a man's business to go down to the battle, and to use his sword when he gets there. Man was not meant to be an armor-keeper; but there are men who go all their lives scrubbing up their armor; keeping their hope bright, and their faith bright, but never using them. Miserable, scouring Christians! Beecher.
A child's simple faith in Jesus can powerfully convict and inspire others.
A young man in the Boston noon prayer-meeting related that he gave, while in the cars from Salem, a few days since, to a little girl but four or five years of age, a small card having upon it the words, "Stand up for Jesus." The lively little miss went around to the passengers, reading it to each of them, and saying in her childlike simplicity, "Stand up for Jesus: won't you stand up for Jesus?" Then she went to her mother, and said, "Mamma, I want you to lift me on to the seat: I want to stand up for Jesus!" The mother burst into tears under conviction, and is now a rejoicing Christian.
A child’s determination to learn was motivated by love for Christ and faith.
Alfred the Great had reached his twelfth year before he had even learned his alphabet. An interesting anecdote is told of the occasion on which he was first prompted to apply himself to books. His mother "But you are old, and infirm, and poor." "Yes, but I love Christ, and this is very little." Surely, I thought, here, in the midst of poverty and decrepitude, is a converted heathen, exercising the enlightened faith which works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world. For days I could not cease reflecting on the expression, "This is to help the cause of Christ." When I thought of the withered hand, and wrinkled face of her who gave it, that rupee was magnified a thousand times beyond its real value.
The same rupee was brought to this country, and its exhibition by agents of benevolent societies, in connection with the above affecting incident, has awakened in thousands of hearts, a deeper interest in missions, holier emotions, and firmer purposes of Christian benevolence.
Choosing a shorter life of active service is better than longer idleness.
Cardinal Gonsalvi was suffering under a chronic disease, and consulted three physicians, who declared on being questioned by the sick man, that this disease would be followed by death in a shorter or longer time, according to the manner in which he lived; but they advised him unanimously to give up his office because, in his situation, mental agitation would be fatal to him. "If," inquired the Cardinal, "I give myself up to repose, how long, gentlemen, will you guarantee my life?" "Six years," answered the doctors. "And if I continue in office?" "Three years at most." "Your servant, gentlemen, replied the Cardinal, "I should prefer living two or three years in doing some good, to living six in idleness."
Diligent personal effort can bring many to Sabbath school and church attendance.
A young lady commenced a tour of active duty in a street in Boston, with a view to do something for the cause of the Redeemer. She devoted a whole day to visiting the poor, and the following statistics show the result of the day's labor. Visited forty families; found fifteen children who did not attend any Sabbath school, and who engaged to go; seven families that would be pleased to receive visits from her minister; and twelve families having no regular place for public worship, who promised to attend. Reader! the field of usefulness in the city and country is extensive; the laborers are few; by active and judicious efforts you can do much to enlighten and save dying sinners; then "go thou and do like wise."
A boy faithfully leads school prayer meetings despite ridicule and opposition.
BOY'S EXERTIONS.—A little lad, in one of the villages of Connecticut was converted to God. He attended school at this time; and he began to study how he might benefit his playmates, and win their hearts to Christ. He was not satisfied with merely living like a Christian before them, watching carefully over his words and actions, and bearing with patience all their persecutions and ridicule on account of his piety; but he determined to use some active means for their salvation. With this in view, he gave notice that there would be a prayer meeting in the school-house during the intermission.
Drawn by curiosity, and to enjoy the sport they wickedly expected, the scholars assembled. But who was to conduct the meeting? Our little friend, strengthened by the Savior, gives out his hymn, sings and prays, and then simply, affectionately, and faithfully, exhorts his companions. Some during the exercises behave with propriety, others jeer, laugh, and attempt to break up the little service.
Unmoved by these persecutions, and his apparent ill success, the little hero continues the meeting on succeeding days.
The master attended, to see if every thing was properly conducted, and was astonished undoubtedly, (for he was an unconverted man,) at the confidence and calmness of the lad. He severely reprimanded those who were only present to disturb the devotions, and saved the young Christian from further persecution. Soon some of the lads became anxious, patient, and were hopefully converted. Their parents witnessing the change, were induced to come with them at their hour of devotion, and ere long several of these were seeking for mercy among the little flock of pious, praying lambs. The ministers of the place, hearing this wonderful intelligence, were aroused, and eventually came in and took charge of the services. Other meetings were appointed, and the result was, that about sixty obtained the salvation of their souls. The whole work, the importance and value of which eternity alone can show, originated, and was in a large sense carried on by this pious, faithful, and courageous little lad! O! how much good young Christians may accomplish!
One woman's efforts sparked a revival and social reform in a destitute area.
Rev. Joel H. Linsley, in a letter to Mr. E. C. Delavan, says:
A female member of one of the churches in the vicinity of Marietta, Ohio, (supplied with preaching by one of the professors in college,) took a school in one of our most destitute counties. There was there only occasional Methodist preaching, and the people had barely heard of cold water societies. This single-handed female got up a meeting, presented a constitution, signed it herself, and secured four or five more signers. At a second meeting a few more were added. At a third meeting she got her brother (a farmer), member of the same church with herself, to write and send for an address, which she was obliged to read at the meeting, (as none present could readily read,) and the issue was a large addition of members—if I mistake not about thirty, and that society now numbers one hundred and seventy, or one hundred and eighty members. The reformation was immediately followed by a great revival of religion, where one had never been known before. Three distilleries were shut up, and the whole face of things in that community is changed almost beyond the power of language to describe. I heard this but a few weeks since, with some other striking facts connected with it, and could hardly credit it, but I went out a week since to preach in that little church, and conversed with the lady myself (a very modest, intelligent, and
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