Day 2 – Read James 2

If you missed the first day, then you can find it here.

James is helping his readers know what a living faith looks like. A living faith has action behind it. A living faith cares about people. A living faith loves God and other people. And a living faith shows it’s love for others by how one treats her neighbor. Dead faith doesn’t care. Dead faith has words but no action. Dead faith has ritual but not relationship. Dead faith is dead!

Here’s a summary of chapter 1:

Living Faith Has No Favorites
James uses the word partiality to describe people’s tendency to show favorites. It’s easy to give people with status our attention. When the President or a Prime Minister shows up, there are black tie and beautiful dress dinners. When Hollywood icons are present there are red carpets, cameras, and sweet cars. In the church, it’s awfully tempting to give the attention to people with resources. They have money and maybe give money, so they deserve more attention, right? Not according to James.

James says, “Show no partiality” (James 2:1, ESV). James argues that God has a heart for the poor, the downcast, the losers, and the lost. The poor are often rich in less tangible ways, like faith. They have to trust God for their daily needs. They often pray diligently for their daily bread. They trust God for more than their comfort. They trust God for their survival.

In this case, it seems like the rich were actually taking advantage of the poor. May it not be so today! (James 2:1-7) James appeals to a higher law than the Old Testament laws—“you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus followers ignore status remembering that even Jesus came to serve.

Living Faith Has Deeds
Faith without action is dead. Some people think that James was disagreeing with the Apostle Paul. Paul said, “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). People often stop reading there, but Paul’s following sentence is “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (v. 10).

Paul and James actually agree with each other. Paul says we are “created in Christ Jesus for Good works.” James says, “faith without works is dead” (v. 17). James is actually comparing a living faith and a dead faith. Dead faith has no bones—it lacks substance. Dead faith doesn’t move toward others. Why? Because it’s dead. It has no life to it.

James gives us two examples of living faith.

1. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac even though it defied reason to do so. He was committed to honoring God even in the absence of reason (Genesis 22:1-16).
2. Rehab helped Israel even though she knew they were spies. She sided with the people of God instead of her own people (Joshua 2:1-22)

Application:

Going to church, reading the Bible, and making donations are all great, but they are not the essence of faith. A real, active, and living faith is not about ritual. A living faith is about heart change. Living faith cares for people. A Living faith sees the poverty-stricken, the hungry, the needy. Those with a living faith don’t avert their eyes to the needs around them.

1. What part of today’s reading is the most challenging?
2. In what ways do we (you) show favoritism?
3. How might God use you and your abilities to serve, care for, and love others?

What would you say to God based on your reading today? Take some time to talk to God in prayer.

Consider writing down a key verse or verses from today on an index card or small piece of paper and carry it with you today. Look at it as often as you can as a reminder of what we learned today.

Possible Verses: James 2:1; James 2:8; James 1:26