Day 5: Faith without action is dead - 7 June 2018
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
A recent conversation touched my heart. I spoke to a woman who lost her husband in a car crash. She told how she discovered something interesting about her husband at his funeral. An unfamiliar woman walked up to her to thank her for what her husband did for her and her family. The widow did not understand what the lady was referring to.
The lady went on to explain that her own husband was diagnosed with cancer months prior to that day. Because he could no longer work, their family struggled financially. She did not know where the widow’s husband heard about their situation, but week after week, on a Friday, they saw him stop in front of their home with bags filled with groceries. Several times, this was an answer to their family’s prayer as they did not have any food in their home. The widow’s husband never spoke about this to anyone.
In James 2: 15-18 we read: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. . . Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” Also in Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
True faith in God is to be interested in things which interest Him. To help relieve a burden wherever we can. Although we do not help someone to get something back, time after time, I’ve seen God bless the giver. In Proverbs 19:17 we read: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Think for a moment: Who do you know that is struggling at the moment – emotionally, financially or physically? A single mom? An orphan? Someone with a special needs child? A colleague going through a divorce? Let’s keep our eyes and ears open for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and let's be obedient and help where we can. Who knows, we might just be the answer to someone else's prayer by doing that. God bless.
Father God, thank you for every good gift I receive from You every day. Please make me aware of those in need and guide me through your Holy Spirit to help where I can. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assignment: Take the step of faith and reach out to someone in need – just one person.
Feedback: Please give feedback or share your testimony of God's breakthroughs in your life at