We live in a world where it is easy to confuse familiarity with fruitfulness. We can sit in the pews, read the Bible in many different versions, connect through various forms of media, and feel spiritually fed. But if the truth never moves from our ears to our hands and feet, it becomes nothing more than an echo. James warns about this in James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Would you be classified as a doer? Paul in Romans 2:13 reminds us that we are not to merely take the word in for mental assent, but we are to learn and do whatever God instructs. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” In Matthew 7:21, we are told, this time by Jesus, that we are to do the will of God.
Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
When we hear or read the word of God, we are to allow it to sink in and energize us, moving us toward pleasing God in all we do. If it never moves us to action, it is nothing more than self-deception. We trick ourselves into believing that we know what is right and that we are living it.
James goes on in verses 23-25 to compare a “hearer only” to one who looks in a mirror, walks away, and immediately forgets what they look like. The mirror shows us the truth. When we hear it, it reveals to us where we need to grow, where love is lacking, and grace is needed. If we are a doer, we must choose not to walk away unchanged. We are to take the reality of what God has shown us and allow it to alter our lives into action.
James 1:23-25 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
How does being a doer look in everyday life? First, we will spend time with God through His word and prayer. If this is not the root of why we do what we do, then it is all in vain. We are no more that a moral person who is doing charity work, but they will still die and go to hell. We must not do what we do to be seen by men. We don’t need a spotlight on what we do. Our motive is done primarily to please God and share His love. When you are a doer, you keep your eyes wide open to what God is saying to you. If you hear a message about forgiveness, you apply it by making the call to the one you are holding a grudge against. When you read or hear about generosity, you intentionally open your wallet to give of your resources, which will likely mean giving your time as well. It is easy to drop a few dollars in an offering, but a doer allows the need to move them to action.
We need to allow God’s word to move us from being consumers of truth to producers of fruit. It is time for application – to bring action to your knowledge and love for Jesus.
- Ask yourself what God has put on your heart recently. Did you hear a message or read a devotional that brought conviction?
- Can you recognize an area in your life where your knowledge is high but your execution is low? An area all Christians need reminding of is witnessing.
- What is one small concrete action you can take in the next 24 hours to put the truth God has revealed to you into action?
While we know from Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are not saved by our works, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” However, the scriptures are very clear that if we are saved, we will work for Him. It is time we examine our own lives and become brutally honest with ourselves. Real love for Jesus will motivate you to do all that you do with joy. So, are you a doer that does all you do for Him, not for the accolades of men, and not because you think it will gain eternal life?
