Faith Works part 1
There have been two phrases in my head over the last little while, and they both pretty much mean the same thing. "Don't sing it... bring it." That's from a pro wrestler. And, "Don't talk about it, BE about it." I don't know where I picked that one up from. But like I said, basically the same thing. Now let me say it another, Biblical way: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:17-18). Charity is love IN ACTION. And, really, since love is giving... you can't really love someone without works. Now, don't get it twisted. PLEASE don't get it twisted. I'm not talking about works and labor. I'm not talking about trying to earn something by the sweat of your brow. I'm not talking about religious calesthenics. I'm not talking about jumping through hoops in order to be a "good" Christian. Labor and works don't work. Its not about getting. Again, love IS giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. What I'm trying to say is, well, let me quote another memory verse, "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:16-18). Don't talk about it... be about it. Don't sing it... bring it. Put your money where your mouth is. Do what needs to be done without making a big fuss about it. If all you want is for someone to acknowledge you... well, I think there are better ways to go about that than to talk about all the great things you're planning to do. Let me use myself as an example. I always try to use myself so nobody gets offended. I'm a writer. But very rarely do I ever tell anybody what I'm working on. Usually I don't even tell people I'm a writer, but that's because I just don't like talking about myself. The reason I don't generally tell people what I working on is because until I've actually written it... there isn't really anything to talk about. And, I mean, sometimes I'll talk it out with someone. If I need ideas, or if I'm not sure about whether something works. Things like that. Technical matters. But as far as, like, bragging about all the stuff I haven't written yet? Nah. Hard pass on that one. Writers write. Once I've done something, that's the time to put it out there. Don't they said the road to hell is paved with good intentions? Don't they say there is more lost by no decision than bad decision? So instead of telling people what you think you're gonna do... just do it. Let your actions speak for themselves. I will shew thee my faith by my works. Actions speak louder than words anyway, right? Faith works when you walk by faith. When you let what inside come out. When the idea of love becomes the action of charity. Love is the greatest (really, the only) power in the world. But unless you put it into action... it really isn't helping anybody. So don't sing it. Bring it. Don't talk about it. Be about it!