18/365: Faith Requires Effort

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ~ Proverbs 14:23

Men are wired to work. We know how to earn wages to pay for food and shelter. We know that talking about our job doesn't get the job done. We have to do the work.

Faith requires us to do more than talk. If we want results, we need to get our hands dirty. To be rich in faith is to see God at work through our hands and feet.

We work not to gain faith, but our work is inspired by our faith.

GO DEEPER: James 2: 14-24

NEXT STEP: Is your faith inspiring you to work harder to represent Christ?

Jack

on 05/09/2023 at 03:19 PM

My tension and struggle is making sure my work is driven by the Gospel and God’s love and grace and not by legalism. Amen!

Jeff Wressell

on 01/29/2023 at 04:04 PM

I believe I work hard at my job but I know I can work harder. My issue is my current job does not pay me what we need to support my family. My struggle is do I take time away from my family to work a different job that is more demanding but provides for us financially or do I take a 2nd job to bring in the additional money. I know it’s time away from my family but I believe it also teaches my sons about responsibility and hard work.

Scott Sorg

on 01/18/2023 at 10:50 PM

My word of the year is empathy. I have come to realize that the keys to empathy are time, talent and treasure. Without those 3, empathy is just a worthless feeling.

Kevin Miller

on 01/18/2023 at 07:05 PM

Faith requires action. The Bible makes that clear. We need to practice our faith blessing others no matter where we are at.

Will

on 01/18/2023 at 06:37 PM

The hard part that I have is the fact that I hate my job. It’s hard to focus my faith in my work when I can’t stand being here

PreacherE

on 01/18/2023 at 05:59 PM

James chapter 2 explains this very well,faith without works is dead. We express our faith through our works, very work is important, many times people think that because they can’t sing or preach that they are not important, but the smallest of works are just as important as the bigger works. In the military most people think of the infantrymen that fight on the front lines, but they forget it took transportation to get them to the front lines, the transportation had to have directions from administration, the administration had to have communication to give the direction. It’s the same in the church, prayer warriors at home praying and fasting for the church, the pastor, and every service is needed and important. The member that cleans the church is as important as the pastor. Let your faith grow and continue to work for the Lord. God bless!

Arnold Argao

on 01/18/2023 at 05:12 PM

Men let us go DO because of what Jesus has DONE! He didn't sacrifice himself so we can be a happy and content lone ranger Christian. No no no. He suffered and died that through us.....others are served and saved!

Chris C

on 01/18/2023 at 04:01 PM

I just need to have a little more faith to believe what I already know." Point of Grace." Amen

Bobby

on 01/18/2023 at 03:33 PM

My faith gives me hope, the example my father set for me as a child, although he was not perfect, he leaned of his faith when times got tough. He taught me that no matter how stressed or lost I may become, there is a light at the end of the darkness. And light was our Lord. my father would remind me and my siblings that "God never get us anything we can't handle". So it is through that lesson that I, too, lean on my faith and know that as long as my efforts are genuine and the purpose is true, the work I do will reflect my faith.

Jerome

on 01/18/2023 at 02:47 PM

Great words and interesting perspectives by you all this morning. I have found that you can't merely "talk the talk", you must also "walk the walk". I have my share of low periods; self-doubt, etc. but a faith-based work ethic always gets me through the challenges. Praise Jesus!

on 01/18/2023 at 02:24 PM

I've spent countless hours trying to justify my failures, making excuses for my unhealthy actions, and placing blame elsewhere when it belonged squarely on my shoulders. What I've received from all of this is - low self esteem, the disrespect of worthy and good people, and an all around BA (bad attitude). Conversely, the things that I've worked hard at, the selfless deeds I've done for others, and the periods of my life that I've listened closely to my Father before acting, have brought me confidence and a quiet inner peace. I've attracted the company of ALL sorts of people - even helping to lift some other sinners out of dark places. Why don't I do these good and profitable works more often? I pray to be better.

Robert McFaddin

on 01/18/2023 at 02:15 PM

Wow! These kickstarts are hitting me right between the eyes lately. I need to exercise my faith. I need to be active AND intentional in living out my faith. I pray that daily, but don’t seem to get it done. I am the answer to a lot of my prayers - if you know what I mean. I have to “do”. I have to put forth the effort. If I had been “doing”over the years like I know I should have, I would have a better marriage. I would have been a better father. The old expression “if I knew then what I know now” fits my life to a tee. Please pray for me my brothers. Pray I will break the barnacles off my faith and life and I will finally “done” like I should.

Ashley Jarvis

on 01/18/2023 at 02:11 PM

Man, I needed this! I’ve been hyper focused on what new direction(s) I’m suppose to be working towards, and I feel stuck in place nervous to move in the wrong direction. I know after readings this morning that I must remember my job is to bring the loaves and the fish, God will do the rest. Once I stopped trying to see the whole path, a few steps I know I can take become clear. It’s like the fog of life I guess, it’s a tricky new way of traveling life for me. There’s a fog of sorts, like if I try looking out too far I’ll freeze because I can’t see where the road leads. I need to look right in front of me, where the fog is thin, I can see the path right under my feet and that’s all I need to do, is the next right step. God has all the rest, every bit of it. God, thank you for the countless times in my life, even the ones I don’t know about, where you held me on the path. Thank you for all the reminders I can look back on when needed, to assure me you’ve got everything, and all I need to do is step forward in faith, one day at a time, Amen 🙏🏻

Boyce Moses

on 01/18/2023 at 01:55 PM

We all gave our own ways of showing our faith. There is no right or wrong way. It may be taking a friend to a doctor appointment, or helping a church member to get groceries, little things that mean the world to them. God puts us here to help each other. Do it with a happy heart of a servant. Love you Jesus! 🤍🧡💛💙

Deon Black

on 01/18/2023 at 01:49 PM

Amen

Jeff Arnold

on 01/18/2023 at 01:45 PM

And a blessed morning to you all gentlemen. It’s all about faith and believing, it’s our God that gives us the muscle and drive to complete our work. But is our choice to do or not do, my pop always instilled in me no matter your job is to do it to the best of your abilities. No matter if it’s in the trenches or in the office. Same thing with church and community, ask God to show you what and how he would like you to do something. Don’t tell him to bless our plans and get on board with them. Get on board with his plans and oh how things change for the better. Everyone have a incredible Wednesday !!

Brandon Pembleton

on 01/18/2023 at 01:41 PM

thank you for that Tommy! quite perfectly said. I remember first starting out in faith and it felt like I was super charged in the morning. then not long after it was almost as if that spiritual muscle fatigue and that feeling of God carrying me would weaken rapidly just a few short hours later. only through regimented daily prayer and meditation did its stamina improve - just like a physical training regimen. It's quite amazing how strong it can become and how in time I could see God's hand in everything. Faith that it was indeed him molding me through challenge and stress. giving me two options keep working at it or give up and go back to the old way, the insane way that was a bucket of suck. Thank you God for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. I love you God. amen 🙌 🙏

Tommy Williamson

on 01/18/2023 at 01:32 PM

To me in many ways is the muscle through which I get things done for the good of the Lord. In our physical body if we do not get up and exercise our muscles will shrink and get weaker each day until eventually we no longer are able to do the physical things that we need to get done. If we don’t exercise our faith by doing and giving things to those in need then it to begins to shrink and weaken until we find we hardly have enough faith to believe in God. How many times on the Prayer Wall do we see brothers that say they don’t know if they are saved or not, those that say I don’t know if I can carry on or even those that are so down that they talk of giving it up and committing suicide. All of these are due to a lack of faith and they lack faith because they have not used it. It isn’t hard to exercise our faith. It could be a simple exercise of walking by somebody giving them a quick smile and saying “God loves you.” It could be going over to help and neighbor when you see them having a hard time with something they are doing. It can be as easy as mowing the lawn of somebody that is older or disabled. It might be just sitting down to listen to someone that needs an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. It might be as simple as asking everyone we know to pray for someone in need. Many of us exercise our faith as we share here or request prayer on the Prayer Wall or share a praise report on the Prayer Wall. Let us each give our faith a good work out on a daily basis.

John Beales

on 01/18/2023 at 12:58 PM

Faith Never Fails 2 Corinthians 5:7 I have a shirt with that on the front. It’s a good reminder for when I’m weak. This journey we are on is all about faith. God bless.

Adam C.Morales

on 01/18/2023 at 11:19 AM

The book of James always hits me hard. Like God is looking right me say those words. I feel I’m a hard worker are work, but that’s it. I need to be doing more in church in the community.

18/365: Faith Requires Effort

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