I am sure we are all familiar with the concept that we are
human beings not human doings, by which we mean that it is more important who
we are and our character than what we do.
This idea came out of a desire to counterbalance the false thinking
that we can earn our way into heaven or God’s favour by what we do. Salvation is
by faith in Christ alone and is a gift of grace. There is nothing we can do to
earn or deserve God’s love and salvation.
There is another true but perhaps not so helpful saying that
you can never do anything to increase or take away God’s love for you. This
does not mean however that we do not need to do anything or that works of service are
unimportant.
God’s love towards us is constant and never fails. Nothing
we say or do changes this but times spent with Jesus increase our awareness of
that love. This is never wasted time. It is in this place of intimacy that we
both receive and give love. It is here that we can be honest with God and
ourselves and let him bring healing and freedom from sin. It is here that we hear from him, we learn
and are inspired and it is from here
that our works of love and service flow.
Some believers in the early Church were convinced they did
not need to do anything as long as they had faith. James, the Lord’s brother,
had something to say about that.
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. James 2: 14 – 18
James
firmly shows that out faith needs actions.
In
everything Jesus is our example - God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around
doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God
was with him. Acts 10:
38
Jesus had
the most intimate relationship with the Father but he showed his love for
others by what he did and so must we. He loved them through teaching but also
through signs, wonders and miracles. Jesus expressed his love to the tax
collectors, prostitutes and sinners – so must we.
The
amazing statement ‘For the Son of Man
came to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19: 10) was spoken in the context
of Jesus visiting Zacchaeus, the tax collector who was fond of stealing from
people. Jesus showed his love by coming
to Zacchaeus’ home. Many criticised his actions but Jesus’ life was one long
faith in action one.
We are
indeed human beings and who we are is incredibly important. Character matters
but so do our actions, as long as they flow out of a love relationship with
Jesus and not out of some misguided desire to impress or win favour with either
God or man. Doing God’s love is a powerful way of showing God’s love.
