“Of course, salvation is God’s gift, out of his sheer grace–this is the teaching of the whole Bible and grace is free. Those who have truly received this free grace are made investors in heaven through deeds of love.
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, if one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well, “keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
Grace, received through faith, does not ease the obligation to invest in heaven through gifts to the needy. Against the pull of self-interest and the excuses of selfishness, grace makes such investment possible.”
Gerard Berghoef and Lester DeKoster in Faithful in All God’s House: Stewardship and the Christian Life ed. Brett Elder (Grand Rapids: Christian’s Library Press, 2013).
Father, thank you for the free gift of salvation and the outpouring of your love and grace in our lives which makes deeds of love possible. May our actions not reflect our stingy selfishness but rather your gracious generosity.