Text: James 2:14-26 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Works in action
Matthew 25:14-30 New English Translation (NET)
For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves[a] and entrusted his property to them.
15 To[b] one he gave five talents,[c] to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work[d] and gained five more.
17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.
18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.
Judgement day
19 After[e] a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them.
20 The[f] one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Sir,[g] you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21 His master answered,[h] 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'
22 The[i] one with the two talents also came and said, 'Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.'
23 His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.
Not all will be saved
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,
25 so[j] I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' This servant is judging the lord.
26 But his master answered,[k] 'Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn't sow and gather where I didn't scatter?
27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers,[l] and on my return I would have received my money back with interest![m]
28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.[n]
29 For the one who has will be given more,[o] and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.[p]
30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness,[q] where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Prepare for your job
1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Don't get distracted
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
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Stay pure
Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Rueben lost his inheritance because of sin.
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