Recently, while studying both the books of Hebrews and James in the Bible, I have been taking a new look at an old topic: faith. Examining faith is like holding a jewel to the sunlight and admiring the multifaceted way it reveals the light.
The New International Version gives in Hebrews 11:1 the following definition, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The Amplified version expands it somewhat, “faith is perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses” In Hebrews, the list of heroes given were all people who were looking forward and believing in the arrival and salvation of Christ the Messiah to come. They had to look forward and believe, while we have to look backward and believe. Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” As the Amplified Bible says, we have to accept as real fact a God who provides a way for us to know Him even though He is not perceived through our physical senses.
This faith is not a merely an intellectual assent. I really like the way the Amplified describes “faith” in the writings of Paul, “the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness”. This aspect of faith goes beyond the concept of belief to encompass the next level of trust. It is one thing to believe that a person exists, but quite another matter to trust yourself to their care.
Faith is revealed in yet another facet by the writing of James. James will not let faith rest as belief in God and salvation, or even as total commitment of ourselves into a relationship of trust with God. James says faith requires action. My husband has often used the following definition of faith, “Faith is taking the knowledge of God you have and putting it into action!” James says it in the strongest terms in James 2:17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” NIV
Our faith is meant to show the world who God is, by the process of our becoming more like Christ. Our life of faith should demonstrate the love of God! This is so often where we feel so pathetically inadequate that our faith stalls. We got belief and we know we need to trust Him, but how do we work this out in our daily lives? James says we just need to do it! In other words, how do we learn to do anything? We practice! We learn by doing it. Truth be told, we make mistakes, just like you make mistakes learning any new skill. However the beautiful thing is that “doing it/obeying God leads to a greater revelation of Himself. Growth comes by acting in obedience. “Obedience rises out of the soil of faith to bear its fruit of obedience.” Louis H. Evans Jr.
In Hebrews 11, the writer drives home the point that it was in their obedient actions that the heroes expressed their faith. They couldn’t just believe; they needed to act. What are the actions that James says we need to be involved in practicing?
Chapter 1
Being joyful under trial – Asking for wisdom – Not trusting in wealth – Dealing with deep inner desires that make us susceptible to temptation – Being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry – Keeping a tight rein on our tongues – Caring for the orphans and widows – Not being lured into accepting culture’s values (That is just chapter one! If you need more to work on…)
Chapter 2 and beyond
Not showing favoritism regardless of social, economic position – Not offering empty religious pat phrases rather than real material support to the needy – Taming our tongues (Again! He seems to think this is important…) – Seeking wisdom from above – Submitting to God while resisting the Devil and the self-centered pull of our culture – Not trusting in our own plans instead trusting God’s will – Being patient in suffering and praying in faith.
I want to be known as a person of faith! The creator God who gives us faith is also a faithful God. We cannot do any of this in our own strength and wisdom. I get stuck at the “slow to become angry” part. That is why Philippians 1:6 from the Amplified Bible is such an encouragement to me. “6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” He is working it in, so I can work it out! Thank you Jesus!