The phrase, "faith without works is dead" has been commonly misinterpreted to mean that every believer must have a particular secular work he is doing as means of livelihood. As much as Bible gives admonition about secular work (Eph.4:28, Acts.20:34-35, IIThes.3:8-10), that however, is not what James chapter 2 is talking about.
The line of thought in James chapter 2 is in respect of Faith and the inevitable concomitant actions(works) produced by faith.
"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead."(James 2:15-17)
The same way you cant claim you care for someone and not be ready to cater for their physical needs when its in your power to do it so also you cant claim you have faith if that same faith does not produce corresponding action. You cant claim you have faith in the gospel of Jesus and not take the concomitant step of accepting Jesus as your saviour (James 2:14)
There are actions that are inevitable offshoot of faith; faith and the actions (works) it produces are inseperable siamese. If faith-motivated actions(works) are not evident in a man's life, Apostle James has taught us that such a man has no faith.
Therefore faith without corresponding action is dead (is not alive; does not exist). got it?
