It’s funny. I don’t remember moving to Seattle.

To my friends in the Seattle area, those of us in East Tennessee are beginning to be able to relate to you. This year, we have been inundated with rain. While a normal summer for us is hot and fairly dry, our temperatures have hardly gotten over 90 degrees this summer, largely due to the overcast weather and almost daily showers that have kept the temperatures down and the humidity up.

All of this water reminds me of the lyrics of the Rich Mullins song "Screen Door":

“It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine/Faith without works ... /It just ain’t happening.”

Now, Rich could be considered one of the most successful artists in the history of Christian music. With songs like "Awesome God" and "Sing Your Praise to the Lord," he left a huge mark on not just the Christian music scene but on the church at large.

However, Rich understood not just the significance of the lyrics he penned, but also the importance of putting your money where your mouth is. He once stated that when his royalty checks came in, his advisory board gave him a modest, fixed amount to live on. This amount was not based on an arbitrary calculation but on a national average.

So, what became of the rest of his money? Stocks? Bonds? Savings or market investments? Retirement?

Nope. His advisory board simply gave it away.

Rich once said he had no idea how much he even made. What was important to him was following the example of Jesus by ministering to the poor. At the time of his death in 1997, he was living on a Navajo Indian reservation, teaching music to the Navajo children. He understood that the trappings of success weren’t the true measure of success. Following Jesus was.

The Bible says that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

Why not find a way to put your faith into action today? Do something to show the world that your faith has a pulse.

Ron Phillips is senior pastor of Abba’s House in Chattanooga, Tenn. His weekly television and daily radio programs are broadcast worldwide and available on the Internet. He is a sought-after speaker and the author of numerous books, including the four-part Foundations on the Holy Spirit, Our Invisible Allies and his latest, A God-Sized Future.

For the original article, visit theheartofabba.com.

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