Is there anyone here who doesn’t know how to swim?   For those who can, pretend you can’t….all of you are wanting to learn.    There’s a pool available…..just waiting for you to jump in. ....it’s perfect; BUT, it’s ten feet deep everywhere – no shallow end.   Are you a little reluctant in using this pool?   Would it make any difference if I told you the water would support you, and you’d float; you just needed to relax?   I think you’d believe me but you’d probably still not be ready to act on it.   You may even have absolute faith in knowing you would float & even know the scientific details in floating.   You could even study books on swimming, but until you get wet, it wouldn’t mean a thing.  
Christianity is like a swimming pool.  It’s not enough to sit on the side & think about it.  You have to jump in feet first; let yourself be immersed in it; let God’s love flow around you, cover you, support you & hold you up.
Someone read James 2:14-26 (relationship between faith & works) remembering James is speaking to a body of believers who have already accepted Jesus as their Lord & Savior……………………………….

• Summarizing these verses we get the following: 14 - What use is it if someone says they have faith but no works? 15 - If you see someone in need & you don’t give them what they need, but say,         ‘Go in peace, be warmed.”  What use is that?16 - therefore faith w/no works is dead 17 - therefore, someone says "I will show you my faith by my works.”18 - you believe in God?   Good. The demons do too. 19 - faith w/o works is useless. 20 - Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac 21 - faith was working w/his works. 22 - Scripture says, "And Abraham believed God & it was reckoned to him as righteousness" 23 - you see that a person is justified by works, & not by faith alone. 24 - Rahab, was justified by works 25 - faith w/o works is dead<

James begins this section by using the example of someone who says they have faith.  He then immediately gives an example of what true & false faiths are.  He begins w/the negative & demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17). Then he shows that that type of faith isn't much different from the faith of demons (verse 19).  Finally, he gives examples of living faith by showing Abraham & Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds.
So, James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works & one that does not.   One is true, & the other is false.  One is dead, the other alive; hence, "Faith w/o works is dead," (James 2:20).   He’s simply saying that if you ‘say' you are a Christian, then there had better be some appropriate works manifested or your faith is false.
Now we know: stewardship is not merely a dimension of the Christian life, but stewardship in fact “isthe Christian life.”
A steward is someone entrusted w/another’s wealth or property & charged w/the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest.   And then….the steward is entrusted by the owner w/sufficient resources & the authority to carry out the designated responsibilities.   We are not just left alone to do what we need to do; we are given the means in which to be responsible!  What a blessing!
God has entrusted to us life, time, talents, money, possessions, family, & God’s grace.   In each we are evaluated in how we regard these & what we do w/what has been entrusted to us.
Scripture tells us that God delegated to us authority over all the creation (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 8:6-7).   God expects us to use all the resources given to us to the best of our ability.   Our primary goal is to be found faithful in accomplishing the tasks delegated to us. (1 Cor. 4:2)
Our use of money & possessions is only one aspect of stewardship; all its aspects are overlapping, as circles overlapped.   In Exodus 36:2-7, for example, we see the tabernacle built by people giving their time, energy, skills, money, & possessions.   It is imperative that we understand how we view & handle “money” will affect how we view & handle our time, energy, talents, family, church, occupation, & every facet of our lives.
It may surprise some of you to hear that Jesus showed a keen interest w/the subject of money.   He spoke frequently in economic terms.   When He began His ministry, He demonstrated an unusual awareness of all kinds of economic activity in Palestine.   The main source for understanding Jesus’ knowledge of what kinds of business enterprises existed at that time are in His parables that He told to illustrate spiritual truth.   More than a quarter of the parables (eleven out of thirty-one) deals w/finances & money directly…just a few:
*(Matt. 13:44-45) He referred to investment in jewels & treasures to illustrate the importance of investing in the Kingdom of God
*(Matt. 13:52) He referred to saving new treasures as well as old treasures to illustrate the importance of storing up both old & new truth
*(Matt. 20:1-16) He referred to hiring procedures & wages to illustrate God’s Sovereignty & generosity in treating all w/equality, forgiving sins, & rewarding people w/eternal life
We will be looking at some of these parables in detail as the next few weeks come & go.
The conclusion of today’s message comes back w/James’ words: faith w/o works is dead.   It’s not enough to learn about swimming….we have to get into the water.
As Christ’s believers, we are freed from the law & the petty rules & legalisms.  As Paul says, "The law kills, but the Spirit gives life." ... New life.   So if we are Christ-like people we will exhibit the fruits of the Holy spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, & self-control. <
Contrary to popular belief - this doesn’t just happen b/c we say we believe in Jesus.  Our faith is a free unmerited gift of God; but it’s not magic.  We must accept God’s grace, & let it work in us.  It’s not enough to say we believe in Jesus; we must accept Him as our Lord, Savior & Master.  That means committing our lives to Him.   It means committing to following His example, as best we can.
If you’ve never really committed yourself to Christ, I invite you to do so now.   Pray w/me:  Lord, we know that faith is more than believing in You; it’s committing to You. We’re ready to do that now.   We’re tired of being poolside Christians.  We want to jump in.  We want to be cleansed by You, refreshed by You, held up by You, made new by You.  Feet first, head first, heart first, jackknife, double somersault, we’re coming in, Lord. ... Thank you; thank you for immersing us in Your love.   We will never be the same again!
And all God’s people said, "Amen!"