Doers And Not Hearers Only

In James 1:21-27 we read of being doers and not hearers only. We know of the importance of action with our belief. It is not enough to merely hear the word and nod our head in agreement. We can’t simply listen to lessons and read our Bibles and then disregard what we have learned.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

If we are ones to merely listen to what is taught and think that is enough, we deceive ourselves. It is a lie to think that we can get by on knowledge alone, just like it is untrue that we can be saved through faith alone (James 2:24).

We must constantly and consistently be applying God’s word to our lives. We need to continually examine ourselves and make sure that we are being active Christians - putting God’s word into practice.

Just because we have knowledge and faith does not mean that we are to be granted that home in heaven that we each desire. Not everyone who knows of Jesus will be recognized by Him. Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This passage brings out another good point: it isn’t enough to be active! We need to be actively doing what is right - that which is found in the Scriptures!

Those mentioned in Matthew 7 sounded like they had been ‘doers’, as they claimed to have been prophesying, casting out demons, and performing many other works in Jesus’ name. However, they weren’t the right works - they weren’t being the right ‘doerers’ - and Jesus says that He does not know them and will send them away.

As Christians, we need to make sure that we are being active in our faith. We can’t just “talk the talk” we need to “walk the walk”, as the saying goes. To be right in God’s eyes we need to be doers of His word and not merely hearers!

                -- John Thrower Jr.