Ephesus - Moriel Ministries

16: And one of you say unto them, Depart
in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit
In this hypothetical situation there is a response
that would seem faithful to the person
in question. The person has the faith or belief
that his blessing upon departure to be warmed
and filled would indeed occur. That seems like
faith to a lot of people. Lost your job and no
money ‘Yes, sure God’s got a wonderful plan
for your life,’ would be a popular response
today. Seems like the faithful response but
James asks what does it profit We say we can
have faith but where is the evidence There’s
a lot of talk- ‘I believe this, I believe that’ but
the way we truly know what you believe is
when its tested. But its really sad when apathy
is disguised as faith.
The second reason Christians fail to have
a faith that produces work is I believe its down
to this- we want to hold onto a faith that isn’t
sacrificial. We like to have a faith that benefits
us. If we just believe with our hearts and
we are saved by nothing we say and do then
what does that cost us The reality is faith
costs us. In the example James brings to say
‘be warmed and filled’ might seem faithful to
some but what does it cost us
We say privately that we are Christians
what does that cost us Very different to proclaiming
it publicly. Faith costs. Jesus told his
disciples to count the cost. He wanted them to
realise that holding onto this face would meet
adversity and would mean sacrifice.
James uses two Biblical characters to
highlight the point he was making. The first
was Abraham, also known as the father of all
who believe.
21: Was not Abraham our father justified
by works, when he had offered Isaac his
son upon the altar
22: Seest thou how faith wrought with
his works, and by works was faith made
perfect
23: And the scripture was fulfilled which
saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed unto him for righteousness: and
he was called the Friend of God.
God called Abraham to take his son of
promise, Isaac, and sacrifice him. This was an
event that was given much theological commentary
during the inter-testamental period
and in the day of James. The initial readers
of the epistle of James would understand the
point James was making of Abraham being
declared as friend of God. Initially Abraham
believed and it was imputed upon him as righteousness,
as the Apostle Paul points out. So
Abraham was already justified in the sense of
acquittal of sin. But His faith was being called
into action. God was asking Abraham to make
a great sacrifice.
I often think of my own faith and how it
applies in the care and well being of my children.
God has given me an awesome responsibility
to be a Father to Levi and Abigail. I aim
to be faithful to that calling by doing what is
Moriel South Africa – Continued
best for them. Recently we have been looking
at schools for Levi to start in September. Obviously
we want Levi to go to the best school
possible. We want Levi to be well educated as
well as a school that is safe, disciplines well
and will support us in bringing Levi up with
Christian ethical values.
However in terms of faith would we be
willing to sacrifice Levi’s education if the
Lord would call us as missionaries to a country
with a poor education system Would we
have the faith to depend on church support
to go full time into the ministry to feed and
cloth our children. Would be willing to go to a
country where Christians are persecuted
It’s easy to say we have faith but to live
by faith in such away you are willing to make
a sacrifice that affects your children is something
quite difficult. Would I be willing to do
it Its not been tested yet because I’ve not
been called- bt I place my hope in God now by
making some sacrifices in taking time away
from family to preach away on occasions, to
do evangelism. I’ve turned down work promotions
and went from being full time to part
time so I could start Bible college because I
have been called to do that.
James also uses the example of Rahab.
25: Likewise also was not Rahab the
harlot justified by works, when she had
received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way
Rahab put her life in jeopardy to help the
two spies, which also effected her mother , father,
sister and brothers. She had heard what
happened at the Red Sea between Israel and
the Egyptians and said her heart melted. But
what if she just believed and did nothing
Might have been a different story for those
two spies. But Rahab had the faith to help
those two men and was vindicated, justified
by her faithfulness.
When we have wonderful examples such
as Abraham and Rahab to show us the cost
they were willing to receive for their faith- a
relative and everyday example such as clothing
and feeding someone seems so little by
comparison. In light of what Jesus did for you
and I by going to the cross to pay for our sins
further puts everything perspective. Jesus was
willing to go through al that pain and suffering,
showing faith and obedience to the Father-
what are we willing to show faith and
obedience to Him.
It becomes a small ask to share the gospel
with our neighbour. It becomes a small ask to
help those who are in poverty. It becomes a
small ask to take one day of the week to come
and worship God and fellowship with His
people. But sometimes its the small things that
people lack the faith for. The parable of the
Talents best illustrates this point.
Matthew 25:14-30 (King James Version)
14: For the kingdom of heaven is as a
man travelling into a far country, who
called his own servants, and delivered
unto them his goods.
15: And unto one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one; to every
man according to his several ability;
and straightway took his journey.
16: Then he that had received the five
talents went and traded with the same,
and made them other five talents.
17: And likewise he that had received
two, he also gained other two.
18: But he that had received one went
and digged in the earth, and hid his
lord’s money.
19: After a long time the lord of those servants
cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20: And so he that had received five talents
came and brought other five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me
five talents: behold, I have gained beside
them five talents more.
21: His lord said unto him, Well done,
thou good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
22: He also that had received two talents
came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst
unto me two talents: behold, I have
gained two other talents beside them.
23: His lord said unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant; thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of thy lord.
24: Then he which had received the
one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art an hard man, reaping
where thou hast not sown, and gathering
where thou hast not strawed:
25: And I was afraid, and went and hid
thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast
that is thine.
26: His lord answered and said unto
him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed
not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27: Thou oughtest therefore to have put
my money to the exchangers, and then at
my coming I should have received mine
own with usury.
28: Take therefore the talent from him,
and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29: For unto every one that hath shall
be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that hath not shall be taken
away even that which he hath.
30: And cast ye the unprofitable servant
into outer darkness: there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.
The wicked servant had the least amount
of talents but could not be faithful with them.
Although, again, he was faithful in his own
eyes because he kept what he was given. We
hold onto our beliefs and our doctrine but do
we put it to good work, into good use The
wicked servant was scared of coming back to
his master empty anded so he hid his talent.
This parable uses money to describe faith in
the way we understand use of money because
man values money and will do anything to
gain more than he has and not loose what he
has. How much more should we be with faith
December 2010 • Moriel Quarterly 17