^{What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. – James 2:14-17 (ESV)}

Throughout the history of the Christian church, confessing faith in Jesus has always gone hand in hand with works of mercy- feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and so on. Our vocations- how we serve others in the world- are driven by our faith, but a wrong view of vocation can lead one away from trusting Jesus.

This might sound confusing. When is it wrong to serve others? It’s all about direction (the order of things) and our motivation.

We love because He (Jesus) first loved us. – 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

The order of things is important for us to understand. Faith precedes works in the same way that planting seeds and tending plants precede picking fruit.

It’s a bit of a disturbing trend in some Christian churches that the emphasis has been so firmly rooted in works of service (which we are called to do) that we forget that in order to bring forth the fruit of God’s kingdom, faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and redemption of our souls must come first.

Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims all have works requirements (i.e. the Five Pillars of Islam) as part of their belief systems, but they are works done with the hope of reward. Christianity alone eschews the concept that we can climb a ladder of works to heaven. There is no quid pro quo in faith alone, Christ alone, grace alone.

The Gospel is Good News precisely because salvation is a free gift. There are no pilgrimages, hair shirts, sums of cash to be paid or other sacrifices that God requires of us. God provided the sacrifice for us just as He did for Abraham.

Our good works flow from a thankful heart and from the realization that we are set free to bless our neighbors.