Faith Works | Week 14

Through this verse by verse study through James we may not be aware of something. Though we have titled the series, “Faith Works”, It could be titled, “The Test of our Faith”. In James 1:19 - 27 we see faith that is tested by its response to the Word of God. In James 2:1-13 we see faith that is tested by its response to social distinctions. From James 2:14-26 we have faith that is tested by its production of works. In todays text we begin to see that faith is tested by developing self-control. A faith that is never tested and tried is a faith that is unsure and unstable. It’s only when we exercise and lift weights that our muscles tone and our lung capacity grows. The same is true if our faith. We have a working faith if you are a Jesus follower. We have a living faith if you are a Jesus follower. We have a sure faith if you are a Jesus follower. The only problem with the faith that we have is if it is a dead faith. A faith that produces nothing. This is a dangerous faith. Now is not the time to posses a dead faith. We must be sure of our faith. The only way to be sure is to test it. 

This test of self-control may be the toughest and most revealing of all. “Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.”  ― Benjamin Franklin We often have no problem trying to control others. Many times we take great delight in it. If we can’t control them directly, we try to control how others view them and thus we think we are controlling them. But listen to Matthew 7:3-5 ESV - (3) Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (4) Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? (5) You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. So with this in mind let’s listen to what James has to say to us.