As a parent, I cannot imagine telling my children that I love them and then never providing food for them to eat or clothes for them to wear. You would be right to question if I truly loved my children at all. My actions would betray my words.

In James chapter two, he talks about the connection between our faith and our works, what we say we believe and what we do. A reader may ask at this point, “So, how are we saved? By keeping the Law?” This is a legitimate question. But James is explaining that our internal faith expresses itself in outward action. Some have misunderstood, assuming that James is saying both faith and works save us. In fact, some have tried to discount this letter altogether because of this misunderstanding.

But James is stating something totally different. He says true faith will naturally express itself in demonstrable works. In verses 15 through 19, he gives the example of loving a neighbor in need. If we look at someone who is suffering and simply say, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but offer no assistance, our words mean nothing (v. 16). James uses strong language in conclusion: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (v. 17).

The example James chooses reminds us of Jesus’ response to the expert in the Law in Luke 10. When asked how to gain eternal life, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Two religious men (the priest and the Levite) walked across the street and did not help the man in need. It was the Samaritan who took care of the man who had been robbed, beaten and left on the side of the road. The religion of the priest and Levite was not worth anything, especially to the helpless man (Luke 10:25–37).