Talk is cheap...DO!

We have all heard the saying, “Talk is Cheap!”  Truer words have never been spoken.  All we have to do is turn on the TV, our computers or smartphones and we can see evidence of people saying one thing and doing another.

Even the Word discourages us that we shouldn’t merely offer words; but back them with our actions:

Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord. 1 John 3:18-19 TLB

Yet, how many of us have been guilty of this very thing?  On any given day, we hear people share a need with us and we’ll say, “I’ll pray for you.”  When more often than not, in this age of excess we have the very thing that they need, but we don’t want to part with it because of a ‘what-if-I-need-it-someday?’ mentality.

Have we ever considered that the reason we are hearing about the need, is so that God can work through us to meet the need?
We are the hands and feet of the Body of Christ.  I have walked on this Earth for decades and I have yet to see money falling down from Heaven.  The only time I have found in the Word that God rained down from Heaven something that would meet His people’s needs was when manna rained down to  feed Israel in the wilderness.  Not to say that God wouldn’t do it again if He had to, but since we as Believers are on this Earth, the LORD shouldn’t have to, He should be able to work through us.  I have personally been on the receiving end when someone was faithful and obedient and met a need that I had and it overwhelmed me and blessed me in ways I could not find words to describe.  Most importantly, it reminded me that God saw and heard my cry and came to my rescue.
I encourage you the next time you encounter a moment when a need is presented, search your heart and ask yourself the question, ‘do I have what this person needs?’  If the answer is YES, then be quick to obey and GIVE IT, trusting that when you have a need for it, Our Daddy God will be faithful to provide it.
James 2:14-18 TLB also encourages in like manner with these words:

Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do?  So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.  But someone may well argue, “You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can’t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act.”

Wow, that last line really leaps out at you; we show that we have faith in God by acting.  When we are quick to obey and meet someone else’s need, we are essentially saying to Our Daddy God that, ‘I trust that when the time comes, you will provide for me as well.’  Relying on a full pantry, closet, garage, etc is not living by faith; it is trusting in what you have stored up. The Word is also has something to say about storing things up in Luke 12:22-33 NLT:

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. ³¹ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Now, I am not saying it is wrong to have things; we just have to check our heart and make sure our things don’t have US!  The surest way to check that is to ask ourselves the question, ‘am I willing to sow this into someone else’s’ life if the opportunity presents itself?’  If the answer isn’t YES, then my friend, your things have your heart and the only thing or should I say person that should have your heart is the one who created you and died for you.  That’s right; He did not withhold even His own life from us.  He gave it willingly because we had a need.