在2021年6月的一天傍晚，一場龍捲風襲擊整個社區，摧毀了其中一個家庭的穀倉。這個穀倉就這麼毀於一旦，令人感到難過，因為這座穀倉自1800年代末期，就矗立在那戶人家的土地上。隔天早晨，約翰與芭芭拉開車前往教會服事，經過那裡看見了毀壞的穀倉。他們想要提供援助，於是便停下車，跟那戶人家聊一聊。在知道對方需要人手幫忙清理之後，約翰和芭芭拉立刻掉轉車頭開車回家，換上工作服，然後回到毀壞的穀倉那裡，花一天的時間，把龍捲風破壞的一切都清理乾淨。他們將信心化為行動，服事這戶人家。

雅各說：「信心沒有行為也是死的」（雅各書2章26節）。雅各以亞伯拉罕為例，闡述他在完全不知道要往哪裡去時，就順服跟從上帝（23節；參閱創世記12章1-4節，15章6節；希伯來書11章8節）。雅各也提到喇合，她藏匿兩名前去打探耶利哥城的探子，表明了對以色列上帝的信心（雅各書2章25節；參閱約書亞記2章，6章17節）。

「若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為」（雅各書2章14節），這對他們毫無益處。英國解經家馬太．亨利說：「信心是根，善行是果。我們必須確保自己兩者都有。」雖然上帝不需要我們的善行，但行為可以證明我們的信心。

A tornado blew through a community on a June evening in 2021, destroying a family’s barn. It was a sad loss because the barn had been on the family property since the late 1800s. As John and Barb drove by on their way to church the next morning, they saw the damage and wondered how they might help. So they stopped and learned that the family needed assistance with cleanup. Turning their car around quickly, they headed back home to change clothes and returned to stay for the day to clean up the mess the violent winds had created. They put their faith into action as they served the family.

James said that “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). He gives the example of Abraham, who in obedience followed God when he didn’t know where he was going (v. 23; see Genesis 12:1–4; 15:6; Hebrews 11:8). James also mentions Rahab, who showed her belief in the God of Israel when she hid the spies who came to check out the city of Jericho (James 2:25; see Joshua 2; 6:17).

“If someone claims to have faith but has no deeds” (James 2:14), it does them no good. “Faith is the root, good works are the fruits,” comments Matthew Henry, “and we must see to it that we have both.” God doesn’t need our good deeds, but our faith is proven by our actions.