The book of James describes what real faith looks like.
In chapter one, verses 6-8, James talks about the person who does not believe, but doubts.
“Doubt” here is not about someone who has moments of uncertainty or who might be confused about God and the way he operates.
Many Christians have those sorts of doubts.
James, however, is talking about a person who doubts whether Jesus is worth following - but is not willing to reject him outright either.
It’s a ‘bet each way’ type of faith which amounts to not fully committing to Jesus and thus failing to wholeheartedly trust in him.
That type of faith is “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind”.
The picture is one of a chaotic and choppy sea; poets call such a scene “restless”.
And James is describing the restless soul of someone who is swayed by the ways of the world one day and the ways of God the next.
They are “double minded”. Unsure and uncertain. Never really convinced God can be fully trusted - but keeping him at arm’s length just in case he is needed.
This, says James, is not the type of faith God requires.
Instead, he wants a wholehearted, single-minded faith. A real faith that trusts, with confidence and certainty in God through Christ.
For James, real faith is a matter of being all in with God, convinced he is worthy of our full and complete devotion.
~ Contributed by Pastor Chris Taylor of the Deniliquin Baptist Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
