Just a quick note about this label that I’ve been applying to stuff related to my advocacies and socio-civic work – James 2:14.
When I was about to celebrate my 49th birthday, I was fortunate enough to have found someone willing to sponsor a whole lot of relief goods to give away. All they asked was that I sort of ‘brand it’ so that it wouldn’t be hijacked by local politicians. It wasn’t a bad idea so I said yes. But try as might, I couldn’t think of a way to brand … MYSELF. It felt weird to say the least.
Unfortunately, the deadline I’d been given – they needed to print the brand on the eco-bags that the relief goods would come in – was coming up fast and I still didn’t have a clue. So someone suggested putting a bible verse on there. Again, not a bad idea, so I agreed. At that point, I guess you could say that inspiration finally struck. “If we’re gonna distribute the stuff on my birthday, why don’t we see what the Bible says about that day!”
And here’s what it said – in James (uh, because me?) 2:14 —
James 2:14-26
New International Versio
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Well, hell if that didn’t seem appropriate. And so the “brand” was born and I’ve been using it ever since. Will probably keep on using it moving forward.