14¶What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:14-17
This verse is good, but many seek to abuse it. Very many.
As I was talking with a brother named Mikha'el the Ruach Kadash came over me and lighted my understanding. Thus did she have me write concerning the Epistle of James:
I will liken this in a parable.
There were two sons of a father. The father bestowed blessings to both of his sons, and gave them their respective portions. To the Elder he gave the blessings of the firstborn and to the younger the blessings of the bloodline.
Each day the father expressed his love for both of his sons by his gifts that he gave both freely and abundantly.
He would chastened them if they did wrong, and praise them if they did right. He gave his all to raise them to be good men; yea, even to the uttermost of his ability. (Isaiah 5:1-4; Jacob 5:8; Matt. 23:37; 3 Nephi 10:4-6; 2 Chron. 36:16; Jer. 2:5, 21; Jer. 7:25,26; Jer. 24:2; Micah 6:3)
The firstborn would say to his father, I love you my father. Nonetheless, he did nothing that his father asked him. If his father asked him to go out into the vineyard he would say, I go, but he would never go. (Matt. 21:30)
If his father asked him for patience concerning a matter, the firstborn would have no patience and cry out that the father was unjust. If the father asked for the son to trust him, then the son would say, who can I trust if not my father? But his heart was far from his father, and he would have no faith or trust.
The second born was rather the opposite.
If the father asked the second son to tend to his vineyard, the second born would say to his father, I will not go. He was honest with his father about his intentions. Afterward he repented and went into the vineyard.
If his father asked him for patience concerning a matter, the second son would have much patience and wait until further directed. If the father asked for the son to trust him, then the son would say, I have not the strength within myself, but you have comforted me and I will hold on for your sake.
How then did the brothers interact with one another? Well, as they are both the seed of their father, they loved their brother with the same love they measured to their father.