What Good Is It?

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 2:15-17

The scenario that James brings up is not hypothetical. The early church had tons of people in it who struggled to find work and to provide necessities for their families. Think of how many times Jesus ran into people begging, people maimed, and people whose leprosy left them unable to take a normal job. There was an enormous divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’

The pandemic has heightened all of our awareness of how much need there is in our own communities. So many people around City Church have lost hours or lost jobs. And so many of our neighbors are struggling and even facing food scarcity. This is not a hypothetical passage to ponder - this is a real life situation to address.

So what are the questions that arise for you as you listen to the Spirit speaking to you from this text? Pay attention to which of the questions are aimed at protecting yourself (e.g., “Why don’t those who have more than me give more?”), which are values questions (e.g., “How should generosity fit with my other financial goals and commitments?), and which are practical questions (e.g., “What’s a good non-profit working in my neighborhood?”). Talk with Jesus about the questions that are coming up for you and see if you have a sense of a next, practical step.