Why is living out my faith important in daily life?

Scripture says that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). And the book of James teaches us that, if our faith is real, it will be lived out. That is, our faith will make a difference in our daily lives. Christians should live out their faith because it properly represents God to the world.

The false teachers of Paul’s day claimed to have faith, but they did not live it out. Paul wrote about them, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:16). If we claim to follow Jesus, but our actions don’t back it up, we’re not really following Jesus (see John 14:15).

In this modern world, it’s tempting to keep one’s faith private. If no one else knows what we believe, life can seem less complicated. When we don’t allow our faith to influence what we say and do, we’re free to live like the rest of the world. Our language, politics, and actions won’t offend unbelievers—or cause them to persecute us. And we can even use the church to network with people who can help us get more money, status, and security. But these are temporary gains. By living out our Christian faith, our work can last for eternity.

When we live out our faith in Christ, we not only further the truth about God but also benefit ourselves and those around us.

When we live out our faith, we worry less. Anxiety over money, death, politics, and other things of this world is lessened. We learn to “pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6, NLT) and in everything give thanks. We have confidence that “[God] will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).

Others benefit, too, when we live out our faith. A person living out his or her faith in Christ will love his neighbors and his enemies (Mark 12:31; Luke 6:27). He will care for those in need (Luke 14:12–14). He will pray for his leaders and work for a peaceful community (1 Timothy 2:1–2). He will stand for justice (Isaiah 1:17). Most importantly, the one who lives out his faith will teach the world how God wants to forgive their sins and have a relationship with Him (1 Peter 3:15).

When we live out our faith in Christ, we follow in Jesus’ steps and live as Jesus taught. Others will see our good works, done in Jesus’ name, and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Our witness will help the world discover the truth (Ephesians 4:25), and “the fruitless deeds of darkness” will be exposed (Ephesians 5:11–13).

The truth is, we do live out our faith, no matter how hard we might try to hide it. Our actions and words are always rooted in what we believe most deeply. If we claim to know Jesus but don’t act like it, our deeds prove that we don’t believe He is Lord or following Him is important (see Titus 1:16). As James says, this type of dead faith is really no faith at all (James 2:26).