Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

Faith and Good Works

¹⁴ My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? ¹⁵ A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. ¹⁶ If you say to that person, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself—that does nothing—is dead.

¹⁸ Someone might say, “You have faith, but I have deeds.” Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ¹⁹ You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.

²⁰ You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing?