Love Requires Action
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Insight
The book of James was written by Jesus’ half-brother, conveniently named James. He wrote the book to those who follow Jesus to share the wisdom he grew up learning and how he encountered his brother, Jesus, putting those words into action. Jesus constantly stressed the importance of loving God and others, and James echoes a lot of this throughout the book of James. For example, in chapter 2, James explicitly challenges those who have put their trust in God also to put their faith into action.
James likely grew up in circles of people who studied the laws of God and followed the guidelines. They knew a lot about God. But when Jesus came, He allowed people to move from knowing facts and rules to knowing the heart of God, and through that, He became accessible. Jesus showed us what it means to love God and, like it, how to love our neighbor. He was God, in human form, living out what it means to love and redeeming us to the relationship God intended.
We have a sign in our house that says, ‘His law is LOVE’. I don’t know where the idea for the sign originated, but it purposefully hangs by our kitchen table. Over the years, our kids have asked about it, and we have shared that Jesus tells us the greatest command is to love God, and the second is like it, to love our neighbor. We usually talk about the importance of being loving and kind and even helpful when we can, but as they have gotten a little older, we’ve been able to talk more directly about love.
When we trust and follow God, our love for Him should compel us to love others. God designed us to love, and love isn’t passive; it requires action. We can know all the facts about God and feel close to Him in our hearts, but it can’t just remain there. The faith we have must compel us to love outwardly.
When we talk to our kids about the sign, it is a gut check for my husband and me but also an opportunity for us to challenge them to put their faith into action. For us, it often looks like saying yes to things we wouldn’t initially say yes to. Sometimes it looks like trusting God when we financially help a friend through something unexpected. It often looks like stepping in even when we don’t have the right words and trusting God uses our faithfulness. For our kids, it looks like inviting a kid to sit with them at lunch that they don’t always get along with or spending a Saturday afternoon serving instead of playing.
It almost always complicates our plans and is rarely a smooth process, but nowhere in scripture are we told it must be perfect. Love can look a million different ways, but God never intended it to be internal or private. To truly love God and love others requires action.
Reflection
Where do you need to display love in your relationships?
Prayer
God, Thank you for Jesus. Thank You for the fullness of life that I find in You. God, I pray that I would be compelled to share that love through my words and actions as I go throughout today. Help me see opportunities to put my faith into action and remember that my purpose is to love. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Children's Ministry Home Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.