‘Hey Yeah, I’ll be there...’
‘I’ll pray for you…’
‘That’s tough, I know exactly what you mean…’
When you really have no intention of going, forget that you said you’d pray, or have no clue what someone else might be going through? Why do we feel the need to put up a good front, to wear a mask that really is quite different from what we feel and think, or minimize what others are experiencing by comparing it to our own circumstances?
Do we really think that God is going to reward us for fakery? Or have we gone so far as to deceive ourselves into thinking that we actually will follow through, when our past actions tell us otherwise?
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. – James 1: 22-26 (NIV) (formatting for emphasis)
What does keeping a tight rein on our tongue look like? I mean, I don’t swear, I don’t gossip, I don’t take God’s name in vain, so I am obeying this right?
How about keeping your word?
How about not telling white lies?
How about following through when you say you'll do something?
What do those around us think of our Faith and our God when our actions don't live up to what we say?
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out....In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13.., 16)
I think it's sometimes more important to practice what we preach, than preach at all. If your words don't match your actions, you are not only not fooling those that are watching you (you know they are, right?) but even worse, you're fooling yourself...
I listened to a podcast a while back by C. Swindol who confessed that he struggled with this - that he often told people that we would pray for them, but then neglected to follow through. He was convicted that when someone asked, he would pray for them then and there, rather than tell them he would and forget later.
I have made the decision that I will let my yes be yes, my no be no, and instead of trying to be everything to everybody.... to be real... to be honest with my own heart, my God, and myself
and quit being a wiener.
Hi Jason,
ReplyDeleteLynnea Harlan here,
Just tuned into your blog,and also realized that both Bill and I have started reading James. I could spend the rest of my life in that book. How timely your note was as I opened mail today and read of my cousin in Walla Walla srtuggling with elder parents and two of her four grown children having health problems. Her title was Prayer Please. I will not approach this request in the same way. As the prists did I will commit to wear this family on my heart and keep them in prayer and will call to speak words of encouragement to her and PRAY WITH HER. Thanks for your and Christinas love toward us,LH
One thing that we need to remember is a quote from my pastor. "If you're too busy, you're too busy. We all can make time for prayer when someone shares a need with us. My mom has made it a habbit that when someone shares a need that before she leaves the conversation that she prays for the person and their need. I have been working on making this a habbit for myself. But there are times that we need know our limits. I want to be a "yes man" but I can't be a "yes man" at the expense of my family or my faith. If my wife and I have been busy all week with me working days and her working or having meeting 4-5 times a week and I get asked to help a friend with a project I may have to be honest and say no. .......Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...... This is a great scripture but I also need to remember the scriptures that teach me about being a good Father and husband. I can easily fill my time with works for others and neglect the work I have at home. To me balance is the key. I have also gone to the other extreme and said no many times when I could have made time to help. It's a constant balancing act. The only way that I have found to balance this is to be a seeker of God. When I do that the Holy Spirit gives me the wisdom on when to say yes and when to say know. hmmmmmm
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