Hearing and Doing

Ever heard someone say, “Don’t judge me.  God knows my heart” when they do something inappropriate or wrong.  I have…and it irks me.  When we know what’s right, we’re obligated to do it.  The Word is clear on this – we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22-25).  

There was a time when I would sit in church and the Pastor would preach a message about changing habits or lifestyle choices and I would think, ‘Oh, what a great message,’ but would not internalize it. I wouldn’t do any self-reflection to see how the message or God’s Word directly related to my actions and my life.  I wouldn’t ask the Lord to reveal the areas of my life I needed to address.  I wouldn’t ask Him to change me so that I lined up with His Word.  I would just go on….and then I read the book of James.  I was convicted and realized I was a hypocrite. 

I could see the things other people were doing wrong, but my stuff wasn’t as obvious in my own mind.  I wasn’t intentionally trying to hurt anyone or just blatantly committing sin, but I also wasn’t going out of my way to try helping anyone either.  I was not sacrificing for anyone less fortunate. I was comfortable and I was enjoying the comfort……in some ways to the expense of others.  God created us for good works…not that good works can save us.  If we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and are in relationship with Him (because God is One), we perform good works as an act of love and obedience.  

I don’t know about you, but I like doing things for those I love.  I like seeing them happy or pleased when I give them something they like.  If we love God, we will keep His commandments, including loving our neighbor as ourselves.  If we don’t love our neighbor, the love of God is not in us (1 John 4:20).  By love, I mean meet the need of my neighbor.  Love here is an action word, not just shallow talk.  Love is backed up by actions.  

In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), we see this best demonstrated. The Samaritan, who in general was looked down on by Jewish people because of his ancestry and had nothing to gain, saw a man injured on the side of the road.  Instead of ignoring the injured man like two religious leaders had just done, he picked the injured man up and took him to an inn where the Samaritan paid for his care with a promise to pay more when he returned if needed.  The Samaritan saw past any differences or conflicts he had to the hurting person underneath.  He loved His brother through deeds and actions.  He was the most like Christ and that is our commission.  

In a world with growing tensions and divisions among people, where hate is allowed to thrive in many cases, we have to be about doing God’s Word and not just hearing it more than ever.  The world needs us to be Hearers and Doers!