When Words Aren't Enough

Try as I might, I just was not able to secure my wife's Valentine's Day gift prior to my trip to Africa. I assured her that I had not forgotten and would get it as soon as I returned. Being the understanding wife that she is, she accepted my assurances with no questions asked. However, as I repeated that reassurance nearly every day for the first week I was back, she believed me less and less. Her disappointed lay not in fact that she hadn't gotten a gift, but in the fact that I had not followed through on what I said I would do. My words alone were not enough; I needed to actually act upon the words I had said.

I wonder how often that little story describes our relationship with God, as individuals and as a church. How often do we say to God that we are going to do something, only to reneg later on? Often in the church, we are reminded of the words of James 1:22, "be doers of the word and not merely hearers...". In that passage, the obvious emphasis is upon not just listening to Jesus but also putting into action what he commands us. The Parable of the Two Sons puts a different twist on things though. Here, the emphasis is upon us not merely speaking a word, but doing that word--following through on what we say we are going to do. Here, as in other places, Jesus lifts up the merits of those whose actions and behaviors fail to meet the standard of those considered righteous while condemning the actions and behaviors of the "righteous". The message is unmistakable: righteousness is not measured solely in words.

So often, it is easier to say what others, including God, want to hear than do what they want us to do. Even for those who strive to stay true to their word, their actions inevitably betray their words. There are times, too, when our words fail to live up to what is expected or desired of us. The good news is that in those times when our words and actions do not mesh together, there is grace to redeem, restore, and renew. May God give us all the grace to confess and live our faith and reinforce our words with our actions.
Gracious God, we pray for the grace to honor you with both our words and our deeds. As you give us the grace to say "yes" to you, may our actions live that out. When we want to say "no" to you, we pray you might transform us and our response into the "yes" that you desire. We cannot do it all by ourself; God we need your help. In Christ, AMEN.