Living by faith is one of Jesus' most important teachings. It turns love and faith into action. Here are some key verses on the subject.
1. Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13 You can't serve God and money. If you work for or obey someone, you are their servant. (See Romans 6:16.) No one can serve two employers at the same time. If you try to work for God and money at the same time, you'll end up cheating on one or the other.
2. John 6:27 Don't work for food. Jesus even challenged working for basic needs. God's 'seal' goes to those who stop working for food and start working for him. (Revelation 7:3)
3. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 Paul preached night and day. No room here for Paul to hold down a secular job, as taught by some.
4. Matthew 6:31-33 Work for God and he'll feed you. What makes us different from all other religions is that we work for God, and not for money.
5. Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 10:38, Galatians 3:11 Good people live by faith. Theoretical faith is not the same as living by it. Justification comes by faith that works 24/7.
6. 1 Timothy 6:10 The root of all evil. All Christians should support a war on the root of all evil. But where is anyone doing that?
7. Colossians 3:5, Ephesians 5:5 Greed is idolatry. Greed and idolatry both represent faith in materialism more than faith in God.
8. Luke 18:22, Luke 12:33, Luke 11:41 Sell what you own. This formula for eternal life and for being a Christian (i.e. a disciple) is not taught in any church today.
9. Luke 14:33 Forsake all. Arguably, the most hated verse in the entire Bible.
10. Luke 14:26 Forsake your family. They call it 'hate' when we don't put them before God, so that is why Jesus said 'hate'.
11. 1 Corinthians 9:7-11 No soldier pays his own way. Paul understood that it is God's job to take care of his 'troops'.
12. 1 Corinthians 7:21-23 Quit your job if you can. A surprise verse to most people. Slaves are to be the exception, rather than the rule, according to Paul.
It is surprising how many of the quotes supporting Jesus' teachings about living by faith come from the Apostle Paul, and yet churchies often quote him to justify their attacks on the teachings of Jesus about living by faith.
(See also The Kingdom of Heaven: key verses.)
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