Today in God's Word—July 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
July 9, James 2
Every now and then a news story comes along about someone who has lived a dual life with a spouse and children in one city, and another home and family somewhere else. “Traveling on business,” he divides his time between the two families, sometimes for years, until his scheme is discovered. When we hear the story, we wonder, “How could he live with the deceitfulness for so long?”
Although most people couldn’t (and wouldn’t want to) live a double life like that, many people do practice some duplicity in their spiritual lives. When a younger man questioned a professing Christian about how a follower of Jesus could do the things he did in business, the businessman said, “I never mix my business and my religion.” He was living a dual life, too. On one hand he attended church, read the Bible and claimed to be a Christian. On the other, he was ruthless and unethical in his business. What he claimed to believe did not affect how he lived.
James brought up two issues that test the genuineness of our faith. First, he said partiality or prejudice has no place in the life of someone who holds the faith of Christ. When we judge people by externals, we are failing to obey God’s fundamental law governing human conduct and relationships: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The scenario he described has been repeated around the world and through the centuries—we welcome the rich and famous, and push away poor people or others whom we deem beneath us. It’s easy to be suspicious of the poor, wondering what they’re trying to get from us. Aren’t we guilty of what we’re accusing them of doing when we favor the rich, hoping to win their favor and generosity? James said partiality is sin, and we stand convicted by the law when we’re guilty of it.
The validity and worth of our faith is also tested by our works, the way we live because we believe. Some professing Christians are
uncomfortable with how James put it here, but it’s plain: Faith without works is dead, useless faith. James’ words do not deny the beautiful doctrine of salvation by grace through faith as taught by Paul in Romans or Ephesians. Instead, James supports the parallel teaching by Paul in Romans and Ephesians that people who are saved by grace lead changed lives. Abraham and Rahab demonstrated their faith by their actions, by their works. People who claim to believe but show no evidence of that faith in their conduct are leading dual lives. As rational people, we take action based on what we believe. Habitual ungodly conduct in a believer’s life says his profession of faith in Jesus as Lord is a lie.
Is your faith genuine? Is your life an expression of your trusting faith in God? We may fool ourselves and even others for a while, but we can’t fool God when we’re living a double life.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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