James was writing to saved Jews. They'd already been saved and he wasn't talking about how to get saved. The Bible says that our works AFTER salvation earn us rewards in heaven. The more our works are worth, the more rewards. But, even if you do NO works, you're still saved and remember that cleaning toilets in heaven is far better than the highest place in hell.

“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
― George Orwell

It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.