Godly Objectives
We have all heard the adage, “Actions speak louder than words.” This ideal is so popular that many cultures around the world espouse some variation of the phrase and Christian culture is no exception. Anyone can SAY they have faith, but how they ACT much more revealing.
The Bible contains clear messages detailing what we are called to believe, but it also includes detailed instructions on how to live if we believe. The Book of James is a relatively short guide through many key Christians living principles. It is a Scripture that we should all frequently return to for those critical reminders of what our lives should look like as believers. Probably one of the most well-known verses in this Book can be found in Chapter 2: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17, ESV). James elaborates upon this important concept for many verses. He starts with a concrete example that we all face (how to treat the poor), then further illustrates his point using two Old Testament figures (Abraham and Rahab), and finally closes the chapter by reiterating his main idea in the form of a simile: “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26, ESV). His point is clear: our Christian actions will always serve as the greatest witness to the people around us in this fallen world.
James’s message of allowing a believer’s faith to speak through their behavior is so important that he carefully crafts a message everyone can comprehend. He doesn’t speak in parables or a dramatic allegory; his writing is clear, straightforward, and uses commonly known examples to engage a broad audience. James specifically chose the examples of Abraham and Rahab from the Old Testament because their faith in God produced righteous actions. Their stories are both well-known and frequently referred back to in other Scriptures. Particularly in Biblical times, the vast majority of people did not have access to anything written, so their knowledge and understanding of God’s Word came from listening to preachers. James chose to illustrate his point with the examples of Abraham and Rahab because his audience would be familiar with them and thus able to better understand what he is saying about the role of true faith in our lives.
This timeless message is so critical for every believer to keep near and dear to their hearts. It’s relatively easy to act like a Christian; however, it’s far more difficult to REACT like a Christian. Most of us are good at assuming the role when things are going good…it becomes more of a challenge when things become difficult. Think about it for a minute: how do you react to being stuck in traffic? How about when you stub your toe? Or when someone inconveniences you? Another place it’s easy to stumble would be on social media. The accountability that face-to-face interactions provide is gone, which tends to lead us to post things we would not normally say out loud. Take a few minutes and review your social media profiles. Maybe not every one of your posts is religious, but are you shining His light in the stories you share and comments you leave? Can your friends see the virtual fruit of His work in you?
It really boils down to this: as the Holy Spirit works in us through Scripture, so should we be working in our world to demonstrate these internal changes. You can recite an entire chapter’s worth of Scripture, but none of it means anything if people can’t see the transformational work those Scriptures have done in your life. If the people around you see you constantly working to be the salt and the light, the power of your faith speaks far more volumes than your words ever could.
Catherine (Cat) Garner was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Nevada when she was 10. She grew up in the Las Vegas community, then earned her BA in English and Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno and her teaching credential from UNLV. She is a National Board CertifiedTeacher who has taught, coached, mentored, #allthethings in public schools for over a decade. She also walks in a variety of school-related roles outside the classroom such as writing curriculum and teaching professional development classes. Her husband, Ryan, is a CPA and they have one son, Jack, and a fur-daughter, Emma. She loves worship music, shoes, a good book, Precepts Bible studies, soccer, making silly TikToks, Sally Clarkson, house plants, and yoga.