Hey, we have so many of these threads going, why not another?
I would say 78% faith, and 22% works is the perfect formula, but it is rather hard to live up to that although I try.
For sometimes I have to pull my works back a little as not to decrease faith, and pull my faith back a little as not to decrease works, so I can have the right balance between the 2.
I was not in the truth for years as I was operating by 60% faith, and 40% works, but then I got it right.
It is hard to accomplish it, but you can if you put the effort in to it, but sometimes is can be a bummer trying to work that formula at times.
Hey Matt, come over here and put your faith with ours as we pray for this person.
Oh I am sorry but I used too much faith this week, so I will go above the optimal faith quota for the week, so I cannot help you out.
Sir I beg of you, I am hungry and in need of food lest I perish from off this earth.
Oh I am sorry but I did my quota of works for the week, and do not want to upset the optimal balance between faith and works, but if it is any consolation I love you man, and I am not even drunk so it carries more weight that way.
I believe we should have faith, and works, wherever it applies, and these works are works of love to help people with wherever they have a need, for living for God is all the time, nothing wavering, so what ever pertains to the kingdom of God at any time we do it if we can.
The Bible says whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might concerning doing good.
Charity, love in action, is greater than faith, which John said do not love in word, or in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.
And faith works by love.
So all we are doing is works that are love towards people, and love is the fulfilling of the law.
Which we know we have to love people to be able to be right with God, so why do people fight over works whether they save us or not, when the works are loving people that we have to do, and if we do not do those works then how are we saved if we do not love people.
So we have to do works of love towards people to be saved, because we have to love people, and to help them with their needs if possible, which is the works that Paul, James, and John, are talking about.
That is why Jesus addressed the first Church in Revelation 2, and said, you have left your first love, and repent, and do those works.
But when the Bible talks of works it is about helping people with their physical needs, like food, and clothing, so it mainly speaks of people that have more than their needs that if they are going by their wants, and not caring about the poor and needy, then they are not operating in faith.
But if a person is barely getting by, and cannot afford to help people then they should not worry about it for they cannot do anything about it, except help people with things other than that.