Busy but Spiritually Bankrupt: The Danger of Works Without Faith

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Eric Nabinger, One of Thousands of Christian Coaches on Noomii.

You can be busy for God and still spiritually bankrupt. That sounds harsh, but it’s true. The Bible doesn’t pull punches when it comes to the motives behind our actions. In fact, James 2:26 declares, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” We often use this to emphasize that our faith should produce visible action and that’s correct. But what’s just as dangerous, and often less talked about, is the emptiness of works done without living faith behind them.

You can serve in ministry, lead Bible studies, tithe faithfully, and be admired for your integrity—yet still operate out of habit, fear, pride, or pressure. You can do the right things for the wrong reasons. That’s not life. That’s performance. And performance isn’t what God is after.

Jesus encountered people like this all the time people who were outwardly righteous but inwardly disconnected. In Matthew 23, He confronted the Pharisees for their obsession with appearances: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” We’d never admit it, but how often do we fall into the same trap? We serve, we strive, we try to be the example and underneath it all, we’re exhausted, bitter, or secretly unsure why it even matters anymore.

That’s the danger of works without faith. They can numb your spirit and fool your heart into thinking you’re growing when you’re really just spinning your wheels.

We live in a world that glorifies productivity. The more you do, the more you’re worth right? But in the kingdom of God, fruitfulness matters more than busyness. And fruit only grows when it’s connected to the vine. Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He didn’t say, “You won’t be successful,” or “You won’t be impressive.” He said “nothing.” Because spiritual value doesn’t come from motion it comes from abiding. When we root our work in faith, it becomes more than just activity it becomes obedience. That’s the difference. Obedience flows from trust. Performance flows from insecurity.

You might be spiritually bankrupt not because you’re inactive, but because your activity has no anchor. If your calendar is full but your spirit feels empty, it’s time to pause and take inventory. Do you feel resentful when your efforts go unnoticed? Are you driven more by obligation than joy? Do you find yourself focused more on outcomes than obedience? Are you trying to cover spiritual dryness with more service? These are signs of works disconnected from faith.

Faith must come first. Works should follow. When we reverse that order, we create a religion that looks good but lacks power. The Gospel is not “do good so God accepts you.” It’s “you are accepted in Christ, therefore go and do good.” That difference matters more than anything.

When your faith is alive, your serving becomes joy, not burden. Your leadership becomes love, not control. Your giving becomes worship, not a transaction. Your life begins to bear eternal fruit, not just earthly results.

You were never meant to white-knuckle your way through the Christian life. God is not glorified by your exhaustion. He’s glorified by your surrender. So if you’ve been busy but spiritually dry it’s time to ask: Are you working for God, or walking with Him? Because works without faith aren’t just incomplete they’re dangerous.

Let today be the day you put faith back in the driver’s seat. Your hands may be full, but only faith will give them purpose.

Don’t just do more, believe deeper. Learn how to align your actions with a living, growing faith through the 8 Pillars at 8PointGrowth.com.