A Faith That Matters to the World (Gen 12:1-3, James 2:14-26)

I’ve mentioned the last few Sundays a study that shows that many young people who grew up in Christian circles have adopted a counterfeit faith. It is a faith where God is only seen as useful when you have a problem that needs fixing, a faith that encourages you to behave and be nice with the promise that good people go to heaven, and a faith that aims for a life of comfort, ease and success. People may even assume this is the faith that you want them to adopt if you invite them to church. It is not a faith that matters when all is well and in the everyday details of life, it is not a faith that can sustain you through suffering and hardship, nor is it a faith that would inspire anyone to profess Christ if their life was on the line. So when this faith meets the real world it is tossed aside. As well it should be. On the other hand, a faith that matters when it meets the real world makes a difference in the real world—the world God has created and is on a mission to redeem. A faith that matters makes a difference not only for ourselves but especially for others. Such was the faith of Abraham…

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Genesis 12:1-3 

James 2:14-26 

1. A faith that matters makes a difference in the world by bringing God’s blessings to other people.

   1. By such a faith, Abraham went on a pilgrimage not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8) but having heard the promise that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. God never promised Abraham that it would be a comfortable or easy journey nor did Abraham have any illusions that it would be. He knew what he was giving up. He knew there would be suffering and sacrifice. After all, it was a huge move away from the big metropolitan cities of his day and away from his relatives. But God was with him. As James reminds us, “he was called a friend of God” (James 2:23). Abraham was no visitor on a Holy Land tour. He was on a pilgrimage with God. His faith relationship—his friendship—with God allowed him to imagine a better country—a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16). He would never be the same because of this journey. And for that matter the world would never be the same because Abraham walked with God by faith. As a friend of God, Abraham is the father of everyone with a faith that matters today.

   2. When you are bringing God’s blessings to other people it is because God has given you such a faith in Jesus Christ. The true and living God is on a mission and just as He sent Jesus Christ into the world even so Jesus Christ is sending you (John 20:21). He is sending you on a pilgrimage to bless other people. A fake faith may encourage people to do things that look good because of the false teaching that good people go to heaven when they die. But it is only when God gives us faith in Jesus Christ that we have a faith that makes a real difference in the real world. Such a faith leads you to set out with God without knowing where you are going, to sacrifice your comfort, and to see beyond your present sufferings to the glory that is to come. It might be that you step out of your comfort zone to tell a coworker who is having a difficult day that you are praying for them. It might be that you plead for God’s blessing upon someone in political office with whom you disagree on just about everything. Or you may say words of blessing to someone with whom you have a history of conflict. A faith that matters in this world that God is on a mission to redeem will bless others in Jesus’ name. Such a faith may lead others to become a blessed friend of God. Indeed, sometimes others will see you blessing your enemies and want to know what on earth would drive you to do that and you will have the opportunity to say that Jesus Christ in heaven sent you to bless other people. (But we don’t just bless other people with words.)

2. A faith that matters makes a difference in the world by doing good works.

   1. As the reading from James shows, a faith that does not produce good works is not a saving faith but a useless belief. Unless your faith leads you to do good works, it is no good to anyone. James wants us to know the difference between a fake faith and the real thing. A faith that matters will make a difference in the real world. It is not simply a matter of believing the right things. James says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19). A saving faith is not only believing some right information. But when we are in relationship with God through Jesus Christ – when we are a friend of God and we get close to God – He rubs off on us. A saving faith then is never alone, it always leads to action. A saving faith brings about your transformation.

   2. You have a faith that matters. James makes the observation that it is no good to wish someone well who is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food without giving them the things they need. You give for the food boxes and for our food pantry, you donate clothes to charity clothes closets, you have served others with the Niagara Gospel Rescue Mission. Many of you have given the shirt off your back to help someone else who needed it and are ready to do so again. You do good works in your homes, at your places of work, and when you are out and about. You may not think that these things are such a big deal or that they make a big difference but they matter to other people. Clearly you do not just say nice things like “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” but your words of blessing are matched by actions. You don’t do this thinking that if you do enough good works then you will get to go to heaven. Rather you are walking with God already and the world can see it because of the good works you do. Indeed, the closer you get to Him the more He will rub off on you. The more your friendship with God grows the more you will be intentional about sharing your faith with others as you bless them in Jesus’ name in word and deed. After all, you are not a tourist here in Niagara Falls, God has sent you on a pilgrimage to be a blessing and the world will never be the same. Thanks be to God. Amen.