Doers of the Word

“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 observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” –James 1:22-25 (NKJV). “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” –Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NKJV).

Did you memorize “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only” early in life, maybe as a young child in Sunday School? I can’t remember when I didn’t know this command from James 1:22. I grew up in a community in the mountains where farming was the major occupation. We learned early that there was work for all, and if our chores were not done well and on time, we had both individual and corporate troubles to deal with. What I came to know later as “the Puritan work ethic” was a part of our family life as well as practices throughout our community. Then at church we began to learn a new dimension to our already-ingrained work ethic. “Be doers of the Word.” We learned that we were to really take seriously the lessons we learned in Sunday School and church and in our daily Bible studies, and seek to follow the Word in thought and in deed. Perhaps this may appear now as an elementary way of learning to “do the Word,” but it seemed to have worked with me and the other children who fell under both good teaching and good examples for being “doers of the Word.” I think I’ve grown somewhat and built upon those early concepts, but they were very foundational, and I am grateful. James teaches (beginning with verse 1:21 which I did not cite above) thatthe Word is “engrafted.” That is, it is like a seed lying in theheart. If conditions are favorable, if this seed is nourished, andthe plant tended when the seed sprouts forth, it will produce itsintended fruit. The Word of God is like that in a life dedicated todoing the work of the Lord. If we hear only, and do not put what we know and hear of the Word into action by good deeds, we deceiveourselves, the “engrafted” seed does not bear fruit. Then Jamesgives another illustration. A person sees his image in a mirror; butthen he goes forth and forgets what he looks like. On January 30 Iwrote a devotional entitled “Radiant for the Lord.” Being doers of what we learn from God’s Word will make us radiant for Him. James continues by saying if we look earnestly into “the perfectlaw of liberty” (the Word, which is our sure guide), then we will not forget, and our works will reflect our having seen what God wants us to do and become. A mere hearer glances at his face and goes on his way forgetting what he looks like. On the other hand, the person who both hears and practices the Word will strive earnestly to apply it in life and will be blessed thereby. James does not say so in this cited passage, but we know from experience that others as well will be blessed by those who “do the Word.” The writer of Ecclesiastes gave a fine analogy of being a doer of the Word: “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” “Bread” in the verse could mean actual bread given in the name of the Lord to the hungry. It can also mean seeds cast into prepared and irrigated land so that a crop of wheat or corn will be forthcoming. Knowing that Jesus said He is “the Bread of Life” the bread we cast upon the waters—share with others—can be telling others of His saving grace. With my background of growing up on a farm, I like this interpretation of Ecclesiastes 11:1. We prepared the land, planted the seeds after danger of frost was past, cultivated the crop, and in due time reaped the results of our labors. We could see that our work was productive because God blessed our efforts. Kindnesses and good deeds, even “cast upon waters” where least expected, will result in blessings, both to the sower and to those who are nourished by the action of “casting bread upon the waters.” What is God motivating you to do today that entitles you to His high honor of allowing you to be “a doer of the Word,” of “casting bread upon the waters” in someone’s life? Pray about doing the Word. He will lead you to blessings of which you were hitherto unaware.