Just Faith?

I find it interesting that when most preachers/pastors talk about faith, they describe it in a way that makes it sound so simple. I often hear things like "all it takes is faith" or "you just need faith". Those are just a few of the phrases that get tossed around. However, having faith in God is not that simple. In fact, it requires more of you than a religious system that is built solely on works. Faith and faithfullness share more than just their first five letters. The faith that is talked about in the Bible requires faithfullness. A works-based system of religion says if I follow this list of dos and don'ts then I'll be okay. A system based on faithfullness goes to a much deeper level. To take a relational example from the Bible, you go beyond not sleeping with that attractive person at work, you don't even think about him/her in that way. You are faithful to your spouse in both thought and deed. In the same way, if we have a relationship with God that is built on faith, we go beyond a shallow list of dos and don'ts and we focus more on whether or not we are trying to be faithful to Him at all times. A faith without faithfullness is no faith at all. James says that "faith without works is dead." It is hard to be faithful when nothing you do reveals your so-called faith. In order to be faithful we must live our lives with Him in mind. Is what I'm doing right now being faithful to God? Don't cheapen faith. If you truly have faith in God the evidence of that faith will be much greater than that of someone who is just trying to follow a list.