I have had a few times in my life when I needed to move. The last time our family moved, I told my wife that I never wanted to do it again. That is all well and good, but we now have four adult children who have moved multiple times. Each time they have moved, they had many people promise to help them move. A few times, when it came right down to the time for the move, most of the “helpers” never showed up. That usually meant that it was up to the family members who were there.
I hate it when people make promises that they do not keep. Today James challenged his readers with this familiar statement: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Many times I have made promises to God based on something that convicted me in the Word of God. I must admit that I have not always practiced what James was teaching here. I have made grand promises to God, but not followed through.
James simply told his readers, that it is not enough to believe the Bible. We also need to practice the truths we have read. In other words, God is encouraging us to take action! As my father has told me many times, “talk is cheap.” Anyone can make a promise, but the man of character is a man who will do what he sees that needs to be done. I want to be that man. I want to be a man who reads the Bible faithfully, and then follows through with action.
If I was making a move, I would want the friends who committed to help with the move to actually show up. I am not interested in having a whole group of people make the promise of showing up. I want to see actual trucks, and people with strong backs. In the same way, I believe God is trying to tell us that He is not so impressed with a trip down the aisle after a convicting sermon. He is more interested in changed lives.
God is not so interested in how many verses we read. He is more interested in how many verses we obey. Throughout Scripture, the importance of obedience is pointed out. David’s brothers saw Goliath just like David did. The difference was that David picked up some stones and followed God’s promises. Elijah was not the only prophet in Israel, but he was the only one who stood up to the 850 prophets/priests of Baal. Will you be a “talker” or a “doer?” I want to be a man of action, not only words. I want my life actions to follow the truths of the Word of God, and not only my mind. Will you join me?