James 2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, 16 And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
I remember the time frame in my life when God asked me to go for Him. I was excited to say the least. That He would choose me to do anything for Him truly amazed me. I didn’t feel worthy or capable, but I couldn’t say no. Anyway, it took me a time to catch on to His ways. Seemed each Sunday I settled back in my chair and asked Him what was going on in my life, how I was to go for Him when I already had debt, and still He was asking me to quit my job? He answered me the same way each time until I caught on. James 2:16
He was telling me I had a gift from Him that I needed to give. My gift wasn’t for me alone, but was given to me to give. God was telling me that I needed to have faith in Him, in His way of doing. I had to have faith that as I gave, I would be provided for. He said faith without action is dead (James 2:17). He also reminded me that His principals work by love, by giving (Luke6:38).
Just like what James said. If someone comes to you and lacks food, and you don’t share your food, you lack faith. Why? Because if you don’t give your food, you are more than likely worrying that you won’t have enough for yourself.
Isn’t that how we operate? Someone comes to us with a problem, which we could solve for them, but instead we say, “I will pray for you.” Then we go on our way expecting God to send someone, when really, He already sent someone.
We are so worried about ourselves as I exhibited when God asked me to quit my job, that we miss the whole purpose of life, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:25.
What I didn’t realize back then, what I believe I am to share with you today, is that your life, our lives are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19). You were created by God to do a work for Him and you are gifted to do that work and know that your gift will make room for you. It will provide for you (Proverbs 18:16).
Church is a good place to learn and to grow, but then we are to go and do that greater works God called us to do (John 14:12).
I would like to encourage you today to ask God where you are to give your gift and then start on that path He has created just for you. Ephesians 2:10 tells us when we are on the path He has for us, that path leads to the good life. Therefore when you do what God has designed for you to do, taking the path He planned, as you give of yourself, you will be rewarded with the good life.