It’s a great question that the apostle James asks: What good is it if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? (James 2:14)
It simply doesn’t work!
In fact, it’s a waste of time if all I do is…
- …speak a blessing over someone’s life
- …claim a promise in Scripture
- …pray
- …walk with God for years
- …provide outstanding hospitality
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead,” James says a couple of verses later (v. 17).
No matter the language—and, y, en, et, und, ve, kai—we need to add the “and” of action to our faith-filled belief.
I need faith AND action…
- …speak the blessing AND be the blessing
- …claim a promise AND act on it
- …pray AND do
- …walk with God AND bring others along with me
- …entertain AND get out in the streets
“I will show you my faith by what I do!” (v. 18).
Faith and, and, AND works.
Heavenly Father, help me to get this right. I don’t want to preach it well or believe it strongly, unless I’m going to live it consistently, too.
Craig T. Owens 
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