Knowing Versus Doing

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Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things entirely. For many years my temptation has been to perpetually study the Bible and never really “do” anything with what I know. Honestly, if I could, I would choose to be a perpetual student, but that’s just not practical at all. Apparently, this has been a struggle for more believers than just me. I say this because James addresses the issue of faith without works in James 2:14-26. He begins by saying, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14, NASB). James goes on to give a tangible example of what he meant. He says that telling someone who is cold and hungry to keep warm and be full and at peace is worthless when what is really needed is clothing and food (vs. 15-16). James goes on to say that faith without works is dead (vs. 17) and Jesus says that we will be known by our fruits (Matt. 7:16 & 20). We have simply been given too much to not act upon our faith, and not acting, at least for me, is pure selfishness.
Paul speaks to this selfishness in Galatians 5:13-15: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’ Saving faith leads to action, and as we grow in the faith, we cannot help but to pour it out in service to others. At the point that faith takes action, it blossoms into righteousness, and that is the difference between knowing what to do and doing it.

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