Emptiness is how I think about the person who has faith but does not live it out. Their relationship with God has been restored but they are missing out on the privilege to live out their faith. To be honest this describes me in the early years of my journey with Christ. I knew that my relationship with God had been restored but I did not know how to live out my faith so I didn't. My emptiness was a result in part due to ignorance or lack of discipleship. For others though this emptiness is self-imposed. They have chosen to not cultivate their relationship with God. They have chosen not to live out what they believe. Their life might be full but they are missing out on the joy that comes for living out ones faith by serving others for the Kingdom.
The other group of people that James was talking about were those who showed their faith by their actions. They have taken ownership of what they believe and have chosen to strengthen their relationship with God and with others. In a recent sermon illustration the pastor was talking about the Christians in the former Soviet Union and China and what happened to them when the government clamped down on their freedom of religion. One flourished and the other faded away. In the Soviet Union many Christians seem to have an empty faith so when the persecution came they didn't know what to do or where to turn. In China the Christians had taken ownership of their faith so even though the above ground church went away the underground church lives on still today. Stealing a line from an old TV commercial, ownership does have its privileges.
Where does your faith stand? Are you empty or are you an owner? If you are an owner continue to live out the faith that God continues to grow in you. If your faith is empty take some time this week to spend with God in quiet reflection and ask how you can begin to live out the things that you say you believe.
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