Walk the Talk: A Men's Bible Study in JamesSample

Action-Man

Do you like dolls, or action figures? If you prefer dolls, we won’t judge, but chances are that majority of men prefer action figures. Action likely being the operative word…

I remember as a young boy, seeing my sister playing with dolls. Buying different sets of clothing and accessories for them. Dressing them up, parading them in her room and at times contesting with other girls who also had their own dolls. As girls do to see which doll is prettiest. And then, there was also one male doll, called Ken.

Ken was a pretty boy, with a neat smile and haircut. Also being dressed up to fit in and stand out at the same time. Pretty… useless.

When I turned eight, I got my own ‘doll’, called Action-Man. Yes, you could dress him up, but usually in camos and boots, and his accessories were guns and knives, not umbrellas and handbags. He was, for all intents and purposes, an action figure, not a doll! See, Ken was pretty and in place, lean but not really mean. Action-Man was tough, muscular, and scarred – he looked like he had gone a few rounds with life and won! He was, unlike Ken, ‘useful’ in the ‘real world’ of boys and men.

In today’s scripture James also made the comparison between useless, and useful faith. Between those who look pretty dressed up in their beliefs, and those who take proper action. There are those who can say all the right things, sitting pretty in the church pews with their perfectly practiced religious smiles. And then there are those among us with the scars to show for their battles of faith and the spiritual muscles to go with that.

James’ call to action to men of faith today is basically this:
Dude, don't Say but Do! Brother don't Stay but Boot-up!

Throughout his letter, James became known as the spokesperson of faith in action. Not neglecting the understanding that we are eternally saved by the grace of Christ and no good deed gets you to heaven, but he clearly states that we were called to action while we’re still on earth. This is our sandbox, beyond enemy lines, our D-day on the beaches of Normandy! You only have this life to contend for Christ, for the next life we’ll have only to be with Christ…

There’s a whole lot of living to be done, while we are still on earth men! Living in our homes, with our families. Living at our workplace and in our community. Living with the exciting uncertainties only our faith in Jesus can still. Let’s not have this living be lifeless. For as the body is dead without the spirit, and faith is dead without the work that follows, so our lives will be empty without the action necessary to be taken by godly men. Men who can be actively involved in their households, men who can be an active witness for Christ at work, men who can be a brother, called to action among friends. Men who can dig into the dirt of this world as the clean hands of Christ.

Don’t be a Ken-doll… be an Action-Man!

Reflect on the following…

1. What’s your observation of the relation between faith and works?

2. In which areas of your own life can you apply greater faith in action?

3. What do you specifically need prayer for today? Pray about it…