"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
James 2:26
Dorothy C. Haskin tells of a testimony meeting held in the south by a visiting Methodist minister. At this service a woman arose and began to relate how much comfort her "religion" gave her in times of trouble. "That's fine, sister," commented the visiting evangelist. "But how about the practical side? Does your 'religion' make you strive to prepare your husband a good dinner? Does it make you keep his sock darned?" Just then he felt a yank at his coattail; looking around he discovered it was the local pastor seeking to get his attention. There was a smile on his face as he whispered hoarsely, "Press dem questions, Doctor, press dem questions! Dat's my wife!"
Yes, we all need to "press dem questions" home to our own hearts. The grace of God should do more than make us happy and satisfied, it should energize us to service and good works. For instance, when God comforts us He does not do it just to make us comfortable, but rather to make us, in turn, comforters (see 2 Corinthians 1:4).
Faith alone is like a zero in arithmetic: no matter how often it is repeated, it represents nothing; however, when there is added to it the units of our good works, then our faith becomes meaningful to others and has practical value.
Rev. J. A. Methuen once asked a simple Christian whether he thought it was possible for a child of God to live an ungodly life; he received the following answer: "Mr. Methuen, if I pour boiling water into a cup, it makes the outside hot as well as the inside. So, too, sir, when the Gospel once gets into a man's heart, the new life will soon show itself."
"Bread For Each Day"
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