Addressing the Issue of Faith

Living by faith is the power of Christian living. What does living by faith look like when it is employed in the life of a follower of Jesus? How we address the issue of faith and how we practice it will determine not only how our life is lived but will dictate how and when we “take the wheel” from the hands of God’s providence for our lives.

Many people approach faith with the ideology of “putting feet to prayers.” Author Frederick Douglass, a contemporary of Mark Twain in the 1800’s, sums up the "putting feet to prayers" approach to living by faith with these words:

“I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”

Many sermons have been preached proclaiming that God needs your help in completing His purpose in people's lives. Does living by faith truly mean seeking God’s approval for possessions, relationships or achievements in your life and then setting out methods to achieve them?

There is an inherent danger with the “putting feet to prayers” approach to faith. Many in the "Word of Faith" movement have embarked upon claiming possessions, relationships or achievements they desire only to find themselves shipwrecked.

Your Heavenly Checking Account

A young lady that I was acquainted with in the 1970’s made such a mistake. Knowing her financial situation, I was surprised to see her drive up in a new car. When I inquired how she was able to afford this new vehicle she told a story about how she had “invested” in a popular television evangelist and that she now had a “heavenly” checking account.

That morning this young lady went to the auto dealer and wrote a check from her personal checking account and had faith that God would transfer money from her “heavenly checking account” into her personal checking account. Needless to say, there were real “earthly” problems that developed from this “putting feet to prayers” account.

Living by Faith

What does God’s word say about living by faith? It is evident from God’s word that unless we live by faith we are not equipped to do His will: “But without faith, it is impossible to please him.” Living by faith goes far beyond just pleasing God, it is a requirement for being received by God, “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is.”

Living by faith does have “legs” we must employ. This verse concludes with: we must have faith that God is “a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6) It is not enough just to say we have faith in God. We must seek after Him for His rewards. In the application of this verse the reward is the atoning work of the Saviour.

For the effects that the “feet to prayers” ideology has in the life of a follower of Jesus, James, the brother of Jesus, gives us this advice about faith living: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” Remember the writer of Hebrews said: God is, “a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 

If seeking the gifts of God is true when we seek the Saviour, it holds as truth as we seek to serve Him. Jesus’ brother goes on to say: “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” Without a doubt, God expects you to “put feet” to your faith in reaching out to others in need.

Without taking action and becoming motivated to be the “body of Christ” in the world, James declares:

“Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”  (Jas 2:14-19)

Living by faith is not a method that we employ to allow us to gain from God what we seek. Living in faith is how we make ourselves available to God to be employed in His will, work and the ministry He desires for us.

How about you? Are you living in faith by “putting feet” to your prayers as you seek to know God’s purpose and plan for your life or are you living in faith to gain access to the things you seek to make your life what you want it to be?