The church family was shocked this week to learn of the passing of one of our most faithful members. Your state of shock is obvious as you begin to look around to try and figure out who is not here. I was saddened when I learned that Someone Else has gone on to receive his reward. This death leaves us with some pretty big shoes to fill. Someone Else had been a part of our church family for many years, and he did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. He served as an inspiration for so many. Whenever there was a leadership role to be filled, everyone just knew that Someone Else would fill it. When there was a class to be taught, a ministry to be carried out or a project to be done, Someone Else was always counted on to get the job done. We just always assumed that Someone Else would be there on the front lines producing the results that we all desired. Someone Else is no longer with us, so it is up to each of us to pick up the slack and accomplish the work that has always been left for Someone Else to get done. This little parable brings an important truth into focus. There is no retirement plan in the Kingdom of God; we are expected to serve until all our days upon this earth are through. There is no one but ourselves to accomplish the work that God has called us to do. In fact we will be held accountable for what we did or did not do. In our text James shows the importance of each one of us carrying our share of the workload in the Kingdom.
I. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach or a meeting to attend, one name was on top of everyone’s list: “Let Someone Else do it.”
A. Right actions provide concrete evidence of true faith.
1. A simple acknowledgement of faith is not sufficient; it must be visible in the way that we live our lives.
2. Faith is more than simply believing the right doctrines and attending church on a regular basis. You can do this and still be in danger of spending eternity in Hell.
3. James is making it very clear that genuine faith is always put into action.
4. However, sadly enough many have always relied on Someone Else to prove their faith.
B. In no shape or form is James advocating that salvation is based upon works.
1. These works that James is writing about are not works done apart from faith or done in place of faith. These are works done because of faith.
2. Too many Christians believe that all they have to do is come and sit in a pew and throw a few bucks in the plate and that will confirm their place in Heaven.
3. James seems to imply that God is going to hold each of us accountable if we do not display an active faith.
4. Listen to Jesus’ thoughts in regard to people with this mistaken view and who are guilty of always passing the buck to Someone Else, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16—NIV)
C. When it came to placing your trust fully in the Lord it seemed as though Someone Else was the only one willing to do so.
1. The area in which this is most evident is that of stewardship. Perhaps this is because that so many do not fully understand the concept.
2. When the Bible talks about stewardship it never just involves money. It involves time and talents as well.
3. We can boast about what we believe and about the fact that we have faith but if it is not revealed in an unselfish life style, it is meaningless.
4. True faith requires that we trust God completely with our time, talents and money.
II. Whenever there was a need to be met in the church, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would rise to the occasion and meet it.
A. True faith always has a direct effect upon the believer’s attitude and behavior.
1. There are two essential ingredients to true faith: commitment and right actions.
2. James provides us with a vivid description of what false faith looks like. In fact it seems to parallel John’s description of false love in 1 John.
3. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20—NIV)
4. Just as true love is always shown through our actions; true faith is shown in the same way.
5. This is the point that James is trying to make. The deeds of our faith give credibility to the claim that we are a believer. The absence of these deeds proves the claims to be false.
B. Believe it or not James actually does an excellent job of illustrating Someone Else’s role within the church.
1. James uses an illustration to prove his point that sounds utterly ridiculous.
2. Imagine you become aware of a family within the church that had a desperate need for food and clothes and approach them and say, “I’m really sorry about your misfortune, I hope you find some food and clothes.” In essence you are saying, “Goodbye and good luck!”
3. In this case the assumption is made that Someone Else will take care of the need. The majority of us would never think of acting in this way in cases like this but we often do it in other situations.
4. Case in point, “Almost every Christian will say that they want the church to grow although their actions say something entirely different. In fact they earnestly pray for Someone Else to come and get the job done.
5. When there is a need God expects more than mere words such as prayers, encouragement and advice. He expects us to go into action.
6. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10—NIV)
C. God will never look kindly on us if we keep passing our own responsibilities on to Someone Else.
1. It is nothing more than empty words if we say that we are concerned about something and never do anything about it.
2. Just like the person in need in James’ illustration the church is in very desperate need and it will take people willing to put their faith in action to meet the need.
3. If we want revival, it we want growth, if we want things to be more than the status quo, we are going to have to get up off our seats and do something about it.
4. We need to give Someone Else some help.
III. Someone Else was a super person, sometimes appearing almost super human. However, one person can only do so much. Could we have just expected too much out of Someone Else?
A. Now that Someone Else has gone on to his reward, how will the church ever get anything done.
1. James statement that faith without works is dead makes it clear that a living faith is always active and productive.
2. When there is a job to be done true faith always requires that we step up to the plate and not wait for Someone Else to get the job done.
3. A faith that moves mountains is always a working faith. A faith that is lived out on a daily basis.
4. Action is the proof of a living faith. The right actions will always prove that we have a living faith.
B. Someone Else always seemed to be that person with the right kind of faith.
1. When there was a job to be done, Someone Else was always in there to carrying the load.
2. Someone Else was never concerned about receiving the credit; he simply wanted God to get the glory.
3. We need to begin displaying that same faith that was always seen in Someone Else’s life. We are the only ones that can display a living and active faith in our own life.
4. Could you imagine what the church could get done if it was full of workers like Someone Else?
C. Now that Someone Else is no longer with us, who will pick up the slack and do the things that Someone Else always had done in the past?
1. Remember if there is a job in the church that needs done, Someone Else is no longer with us. So it is up to us to make sure that it gets done.
2. Each of us has the responsibility to pick up where Someone Else has left off.
3. Do you want true faith? Then you must be willing to have a faith that is proven in your actions.
4. God expects us to follow our commitment through just like Someone Else always did. If we do we will experience blessings untold.
The Bible does not tell us a lot about Enoch. The writer of Genesis gives a brief glimpse of this man. Genesis 5:21-24 tells us this, “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Despite this lack of information, Enoch is one of the people commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. So for a few moments, I would like you to imagine what the relationship between Enoch and God was like.
I have a vivid image in my mind of what it might have been like to be Enoch. Every day in the cool of the evening God and Enoch would take a walk. They probably had many very deep conversations. Enoch was probably full of questions for God and God probably asked Enoch some difficult questions just as He did with Job. One evening when they were on their walk God asked Enoch a really difficult question and they walked on as the continued to discuss it. Soon Enoch looked around and noticed that it was starting to get dark and realized that he had never traveled this far before. Enoch started to get scared and cried out, “God, I’ve never been this far before and it’s starting to get dark. I’m not sure if I can find my way back home.” God just looked at Enoch and smiled. He said to Enoch, “Don’t worry, why don’t you just come home with me.”
Faith will take us places where we have never been before. Human nature always has the tendency to get scared and back off when we begin to enter uncharted territory or encounter opposition. However, a strong, active, working faith has the ability to always see us through. We should desire that our faith will carry us to the point where one day we will here God say, “Why don’t you just come home with me.”
