The Vine: Jan. 22, 2024
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.”
In order for us to properly understand our text for today, we must first take a look at what James wrote in the opening verses of chapter two (James 2:1-4): “My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here please,’ while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”
James did not mix words. For James, and especially Jesus, it was unacceptable to treat people differently based on financial circumstances. Jesus had a deep concern for the poor and speaking out regarding social injustices. In Matthew, Mark, and John one out of every ten verses speaks to the poor or issues regarding social injustice. In Luke it is one out of seven! So we can see why James was so upset with the favoritism that was on full display in some of the early churches.
Our passage for today deals with the relationship between faith and works. One of the best definitions of faith I have heard is that it is receiving God’s grace as a gift. If we have received God’s grace in Christ as a pure gift, then our works flow out of that grace. We do not do good works so that God will love or accept us, rather, we do so in response to God’s love and acceptance of us. In I John 4:19 it says, “We love because he first loved us.” That is very true and is a healthy way to look at our motivation for loving and serving others.
So often we do things for others because we want to be affirmed or have a favor returned in one way or another. In that sense the motivation for good works is self-centered and misguided. We are closest to Christ when we simply love and serve for the sake of loving and serving alone. We are maturing as disciples when we understand that we ourselves are recipients of grace initiated by God alone, and then extend that grace through good works for others. In a real sense our faith and works go hand in hand and by the grace of God may our lives reflect the fruit of the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Questions for Reflection
How have you understood the word “faith” in the past? When faith is described as receiving God’s grace in Christ as a gift, does that change how you think about the relationship of faith and works?
Recall some good works you have initiated in the past week or so. What was your motivation for those good works?
Jesus placed a heavy emphasis on caring for the poor and those who are outcasts. How are you caring for the poor? How are you speaking up for and caring for those that are cast aside for one reason or another in our society?
In what specific ways does your life reflect your faith in Christ?
ACTION STEP FOR THE WEEK:
Do something “just because” this week for someone else with no expectation of affirmation or personal gain.
Have a great week!
In Christ,
Brad