Rachel Fisher, Children’s Ministries Communications Specialist

James 2:14-26 (NIV)

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Reflection:

Hi, my name is Rachel Fisher, and I am a Late Person. For 28 years, I have walked God’s Green Earth and still have not unlocked the secret to being on-time. Mostly I try to avoid using harsh vocabulary such as “always” or “never”…but I speak the truth in saying I am ALWAYS racing to my destination and NEVER allow myself enough time. And it is honestly unacceptable.

Why then, if I take such an issue with being late, do I continue to make this same mistake over and over again? Let us look to science for the answer: Sir Isaac Newton, in all his knowledge of our world, may also provide clarity regarding my lack of punctuality.

For example, Newton’s First Law of Motion states that an object at rest remains at rest. So if I hit the “snooze” button on my alarm but make no attempt to shorten my morning routine, I will absolutely arrive at work 30 minutes past when it is acceptable. If I go to sleep instead of packing my gym bag before bed, I must allow an extra 15 minutes when I wake up, or else I will miss my kickboxing class. If I decide to remain seated on the couch watching a 22-minute long television episode, but the restaurant where I am supposed to meet my friends is 30 minutes away, I will inevitably miss out on chips and salsa (and the conversations that take place).

I make a choice to remain at rest, so I will remain at rest…and not get to my destination on time. That is how the universe works.

Newton’s Second Law of Motion is this: the acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied (more commonly explained as force equals mass times acceleration). In this equation, the reason behind my tardiness is the force I am seeking to understand, and excuses are the mass, because let me reassure you, I accelerate these “justifications” at the speed of light. I can often be heard quipping:

  • I am so busy, which is why it is difficult for me to juggle my schedule.
  • Others distract me, therefore I loiter in an attempt to not appear rude and abruptly leave when I should.
  • I have just had a stroke of brilliance—a genius idea or creative venture I would like to explore—to which that must be attended immediately, affecting my plans.
  • Other miscellaneous anecdotes frequently feature traffic, weather, parking, long lines, phone calls, pressing workplace matters, communication errors, acts of God, Mercury in retrograde, etc.

And yet…no matter how valid (or convincible) my reasons for being late are…I am still late. Even when I have something or someone else to blame, the negative effects of my prolonged arrival are still felt.

The effort I make creates just as much of an impact as external factors. Therefore, I must take greater strides to arrive on-time, regardless of what happens along the way.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion is quite simple: that for every action, there is an equal, but opposite, reaction. I can either choose to be on time (action) by striking down a slothful habit (reaction), or I can choose to be irresponsible (action) and force myself and everyone with whom I interact to feel the reverberations of my selfishness (reaction).

As it relates to our faith, if we neglect our Christianity (action), we send another, opposite action into the world, thereby dismantling the foundation of our faith altogether (reaction).

So what really happens when we do not “show up?” Or rather, “show up late?” By prioritizing ourselves, our time, our desires, over putting forth the work to further the kingdom of God, we miss opportunities for the growth of ourselves and others. We—and those who depend on us—suffer. Our lives create ripple effects that are unavoidable, therefore we must examine wherein our investments lie.

Yes, religion can often feel like a set of action items that must be met: attend worship, join a small group, volunteer, read the Bible, share your faith with others, etc. And when we place our entire value on these parameters, our relationships can be hollow because God’s love is not our foremost pursuit. After all, Jesus came to save us from the almighty judgment of rules. But just as our own actions define the outcome of our timing, so does our choice to take action and actually live out our faith define our identity as Christians.

So be on time, or do not. Pursue Jesus, or do not. Whether from a Bible or a textbook, the laws of the universe are spelled out clearly and without exception. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. Choose to be on time. Choose to fulfill deeds. Choose to live.

Prayer:
Dear God, forgive me for my inaction. Give me strength and perseverance, and a spirit of service. May I not disappoint those around me, and most importantly, may I never bring dishonor to you. Help me to be a force for good. Amen.