Feb
27
Louder Than Words
Filed Under Devotional
“Actions speak louder than words.”
I think about this simple proverb quite a bit these days. The number of public people telling me one thing and doing another seems to be increasing. Rapidly. It makes me cynical and distrustful of many of the faces I see on TV or in the newspaper. While this doesn’t apply directly, it does remind me of the prediction by Paul about the time when people will follow those who say what they want to hear:
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Paul is discussing those in and around the church who will be drawn to those false leaders that are saying what the people want to hear, but the principle is the same. The time always comes when people are attracted to the charlatan, to the snake oil salesman. It works because the audience wants so badly to believe it.
But, actions speak louder than words. What are the results of those who say what our ears are itching to hear? What is the outcome of their doctrine and guidance? It’s never what they were promising. Sometimes, it’s not even close. Whether they promise that you’ll be saved by living like Jesus (rather than giving your life to Him) or they promise that spending money we don’t have will get us out of the pit created by spending money we don’t have, it’s all hearing what we want to hear without paying attention to the actions. It’s the actions that count.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.” 1 John 3:18
Amen