JUST DO SOMETHING!

‎2 Tim 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. KJV
Paul’s letter and warning forecast to Timothy is as relevant to us today as it was when it was written many centuries ago. He predicted that a season of time would come when believers would willfully turn away from sound doctrine, preferring instead, teachings and teachers that would placate carnal lust, devoid of truth and propagating anything mythological, fictional and entertaining. Time would then be filled by an attraction for information, supporting the desired personal experience, without accomplishing anything for the good of the Kingdom. What’s more, Paul’s comments to Timothy were couched in the center of a challenge that urged the younger minister to intentionally maintain diligence in dynamic forms of ministry service. In other words, Paul exhorted Timothy to be a doer and not just a hearer of the message. In that case, one can understand, why he forewarned Timothy of an impending and imminent switch, when believers would disdain Spirit-led doing, in preference of futile and carnal appetites for more knowledge, teaching, and what I have come to identify as a spiritual gluttony, void of fruitful works. This warning was as apropos then as it is today.

Now, I do believe that we need to be knowledgeable of the Scriptures and the pursuit the knowledge of God for the purpose of becoming strong in the faith so that we can do something to bring a change in our world for the Glory of God. We need to be in a constant state of learning. But let me qualify that by saying we need to learn the right things: things that promote solid doctrine and truths consistent with accurate interpretation of the Scriptures in accordance with the character of God. In saying this, the question I must ask is: Are you doing anything with what you’ve learned? If your continual attention is directed toward a perpetual state of education without an end that produces positive fruitful results, then this learning is self-serving and will produce nothing but a fat head and spiritual pride.

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. KJV

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing…….8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ….16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. KJV
One of the primary commands to humanity from the beginning was: Be Fruitful!!! There are over 50 different named categories of fruit identified in the Bible. What’s more, Jesus stated in John 15 that those who intimately followed Him should produce much enduring fruit. This pertains to all who believe at any age. My heart always breaks when senior saints tell me how they feel that they're fruitless. But no matter how old or young you are, you can bear fruit, even if the only thing you can do is intercede. The valuable fruit of the genuine intercessory life cannot be disregarded. Furthermore, the seed of the Word, as spoken of in the parable of the sower, should bring forth good fruit in your life for the Kingdom of God, depending, of course, as to whether the seed landed in good or bad soil. Are you being fruitful? What are you doing with what you’ve learned? Are you accomplishing anything? These are questions you need to ask yourself on a regular basis.

Matt 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. KJV
The past few years of ministry have been frustrating for me in that I haven’t had as many opportunities to speak as I'd like and am accustomed to throughout my 33 years of ministry. Furthermore, I realize and treasure that God has deposited a wealth of spiritual treasures and truth in my life. I grew up in a region of the US where a healthy work ethic was woven into the fabric of my being. I therefore can’t stand being idle which leads to fruitlessness. Consequently, I decided to start this page and the blog. I will not be guilty of slothfulness and will write what the Lord has given me very aware that no one may read what I write. But I am doing my part as God leads.

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now, and it came to a poignant head a few weeks ago, when I went to see the recognized movie “The Iron Lady”, starring Meryl Streep, in the role of an elderly Margaret Thatcher. Now I know there is a wide variety of opinion concerning the former Prime Minister of the UK. But, no matter how you feel about her, one scene in the flick hit me with intense force and pushed my innermost contemplations painfully to the surface. In the scene she sat in the doctor’s office discussing her health ,and in answer to her physician’s question she made a statement that felt like a forceful punch to the heart jolting me to wake up! She simply said, “Just Do Something”. I know to some folks this may sound trite. But honestly, I am very fed up with hearing reports of people who live to perpetually feed their disguised appetites thinking that more learning will satisfy the muffled but deep internal wail that can only be quelled by being a doer and not just a hearer. I don’t want this to come across in a harsh judgmental manner. On the other hand, perhaps we need to be rattled a bit. Then maybe the puzzle pieces of our fragile human excuses can be shaken apart and we can see we’re missing the point of being a follower of Christ. So once again, are you a doer? Are you accomplishing something that is of eternal value or are you settling for less than what you were made to be? God help us!

I'm also aware, that in saying these things, some believers will misinterpret what I’m writing and think that busy-ness is the same thing as being a doer. There is a radical difference between the two. Dead works have always been at odds with good works and must be distinguished. The question is: Are you doing anything with what you’ve learned? I realize this seems too simply but the statement in the movie capsulates what we need to hear! Just do something! Make a difference with the truth you have and seek God for a way to help the people around you. You never know who is waiting for your input!

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; KJV
In closing, Paul wrote to the church at Colosse and encouraged the believers there to walk worthy of the Lord, being fruitful in every good work. He didn’t diminish the need to increase in the knowledge of God and neither should we. Our learning, however, should not cease, although what we learn needs to be solid truth and not fiction or mythological. Therefore, my prayer is that you will take what you’ve learned. Stop chasing after more and JUST DO SOMETHING! Just do something and make a difference.