Faith by Itself, If it is Not Accompanied by Action, is Dead

The picture of the tightrope walker is of Charles Blondin walking over Niagra Falls in 1859. The story is told that Mr. Blondin ask if anyone believed in him enough to ride on his back as he walked 1,100 feet across Niagara Falls.  His manager Harry Colcord was the only volunteer who really believed in him enough to cross on his back....to put his faith into action.....true faith.

This is really the point that James, Jesus' brother wants to make to his audience.  He pleads with them, "Dear brothers." (probably an endearing phrase he had heard from his brother....Jesus).  In Chapter 2:17 he says, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."   "No action...No faith"...James is saying!!!! Then he follows up in verse 26 by saying, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

James is a man of action.  He says ...if you believe it...then you will act on it. In Chapter one James had written a similar argument about listening and doing. In James 1:22 he says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  So when you listen in your pew on Sunday...then put it to action on Monday morning...listen to the word...then do the word!!!!  "whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

So faith and works go hand in hand.  We don't have to choose one over the other...they are equally important to the gospel.  In fact...according to James.... works prove that  faith exists. When Harry Colcord crawled on the back of Charles Blondin....he showed the world that he really believed that he could make it across on the back of the talented tightrope walker.  His deeds proved his faith.