Pulling on Both Oars

An old Scotsman operated a small rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one oar the word, “Faith,” and on the other oar, “Works.” Curious, the Scotsman asked the meaning. The old man replied, “I’ll show you.” He dropped the “Faith” oar and pulled the “Works” oar. The boat went around in circles. Then, he dropped that oar and pulled the “Faith” oar. The little boat went in circles the opposite direction. After the demonstration, the old man picked up “Faith” and “Works,” and he began pulling both oars together. The boat sped swiftly over the water.

The old man explained, “You see, that is the way it is the Christian life. Dead works without faith are useless, and faith without works is dead also, getting you nowhere. However, faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress and blessing (James 2:14-26).”