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Doers, Not Hearers Only
March 16, 2014
It is important to study the scriptures and meditate upon the ways and words of God. But, it is not enough merely to listen to God -- we must also do what He tells us to do. Being a follower of Christ is not just about learning ideas, but to put those ideas into practice in our daily lives. We will not be rewarded for hearing the words of God unless we act upon them. - Bernie Parsons
Doers, Not Hearers Only
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 03-16-2014
Presented to Load church of Christ on 04-06-2014
We last looked at the idea of never tiring of doing the will of God. I want
to go a bit deeper to establish how important that it is to do what God
wants -- doing is more than hearing.
Matthew 21:28 "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to
the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The
first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and
the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."
Both of these sons heard their father. One said that he would do what his
father asked, but failed to do it. The other was disinclined to do what his
father asked, but changed his mind and did it. Which was pleasing to his
father? The one who did the work!
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.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will
liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."
Jesus lays it out plainly – if you only hear what God says but do not follow
up to do it, then your life will end in disaster.
Romans 10:12 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the
earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to
jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger
you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me
not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto
a disobedient and gainsaying people."
God made it clear to Israel what He wanted, but Israel was disobedient. They
were not doers of what God wanted -- instead, they pretty much did whatever
that they wanted to do.
James 1:22 "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves.
23 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:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed."
James admonished his readers not to take confidence in hearing the word of
God only, but in doing the things that they learned that God expected of
them.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers about the importance of
doing wise and lasting work for the Lord. If we work foolishly, our work
will disintegrate in the flames of the trials and tribulations of this life.
If wisely, it will withstand those troubles.
1 Corinthians 3:6 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the
increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;
but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall
receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are
God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise
masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But
let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
Jesus pointed out on more than one occasion the importance of doing the good
works of God.
Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works."
The apostle Paul reiterated this, reminding that disobedience to God results
in Him pouring out His wrath upon a person, while obedience gains the
blessings of God.
Romans 2:5 "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour
and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the
Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew
first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God."
We are not only to listen to God – in itself an important function – but to
follow through, after hearing, by doing the things that God has taught,
commanded, and expected. Possession of knowledge will not save our souls if
we do not use that knowledge by doing God’s work.
