Expecting Too Much?

                                Psalm 15

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

In the margin of my Bible next to Psalm 15 (above) I have written the word, “integrity”. This Psalm not only describes the person of integrity but also promises that they will sojourn in God’s tent and dwell on His holy hill. This Psalm is there for every Christian to follow. Please pay particular attention to that last verse, “He who does these things shall never be moved.” (Emphasis mine)

Someone recently put something like the following statement on his facebook status: “A man’s reputation is not built on what he plans to do.”

It seems that ever since reading that and having it sound so right I have recognized how often the Bible requires action. James probably makes it the clearest when he says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.  (James 1:22-25)

In effect, isn’t James saying, “A Christian’s fruit is not judged by what he plans to do but by what he actually does?”

So, if we know the Word of God and do not live by it – we are deceiving ourselves into believing that we have a relationship with the Lord that will save us. But, Jesus said that you will know a Christian by the fruit they bear in this life (Matthew 7:16) – not by the plans they make to bear the fruit – but by the fruit. Even non-Christians know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Many years ago I got very convicted about not letting my yes be yes and my no, no. (James 5:12) Now I try not to promise I will do something I am not sure I can get done. I try not to even promise I will pray about something if I can’t write it down so I will remember. I’m sure that I do not succeed at this all the time, but generally speaking if I tell you I will do something I will get it done or let you know that it’s not happening. This seems like a basic, necessary follow through for the Christian to keep her word.

I have gotten a little concerned again lately that many Christians are willing to tell you they will do something that they then fail to do. It seems that maybe they plan to do it – or are they saying what you want to hear so you will stop asking – at least until you realize it isn’t done yet?

Sometimes we don’t even ask. Someone volunteers to tell you his or her plans, fully intending to carry them out, but he gets waylaid and accomplishes nothing. Are we to be proud of him for making the plan? For saying the right thing at the time? If it’s something he needs to do to obey God he must realize that delayed obedience is disobedience. It’s a sin against God. If she promises you or me she will do something she doesn’t do, then she has lied to us and still there is sin. If she says it to make you happy, not intending to complete the task, we have to add the fear of man to the list of sin.

It’s a slippery slope to say you will do something and not do it. It’s worse if we know it’s what we are to do before God and we don’t do it. Am I expecting too much when someone, especially a brother or sister in the Lord, tells me he or she will do something and I expect it to be done?

Whenever I ask that kind of question I have to see what my dear friend always sees, one finger points at others while three more are pointing back at me. Am I always following through on what I tell others I will do? If I don’t I sure hope you’ll point it out to me so I can make that wrong into a right. You will not be expecting too much of me if you do.