A Doer of the Wor_

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was” (James 1:22-24).

     Most Bible believers are familiar with these instructions of James that tell us to be doers of the word. But in the very next verse, James tells us to be doers of something else in addition to the word:

     “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25, emphasis mine).

     We are told to be not only doers of the word, but also doers of the work.

     Over the years, I have heard many Bible believers talk about the importance of being doers of the word and not just hearers. But I rarely if ever hear believers talk about the importance of being doers of the work. Yet this is exactly what James says. He contrasts “a forgetful hearer” with “a doer of the work.”

     What sort of work are you doing for the Lord and His kingdom? I fear that many believers today are doing very little if any worthwhile work for the Lord.

“WORK?!”

Many readers probably remember actor Bob Denver, who became famous playing Gilligan in the TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.” Before that TV show, Bob Denver played a secondary role in another TV show, “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” In that show, Bob Denver played Maynard G. Krebs, the beatnik buddy of Dobie Gillis, the main character. Maynard G. Krebs (the “G” stood for “Walter,” Maynard claimed) was a happy-go-lucky, freewheeling, lazy but loveable character who eschewed work. Anytime someone mentioned work, Maynard would flinch and loudly blurt out the word “Work?! ” as if he were terrified by the very thought of working. It always got a hearty laugh from the audience.

     When I see the way some Bible believers respond (or rather do not respond) to opportunities to do some work for the Lord, I think of Maynard G. Krebs. “Work?! ”

     Offer people an opportunity to do some work that will put them up on the stage and in the spotlight, and many will eagerly do whatever it takes to prepare themselves for that glorious work. But ask for volunteers to do some mundane task like cleaning the building, or giving people a ride to meetings, or helping someone who has disabilities, and a lot of people make themselves scarce. They are not very eager to do that sort of work.

     Working behind the scenes in obscurity, unnoticed and maybe even unappreciated by others, does not seem “spiritual” to some people. But if work is done for the Lord and it is work that needs to be done by somebody, then that work is just as “spiritual” as preaching to a multitude from a lighted stage.

THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

     A lot of ministry work consists of mundane, boring tasks that need to be done. Even a somewhat small ministry like Gates of Eden requires a lot of behind-the-scenes footwork. Among other things, bills have to be paid, financial records kept up-to-date, quarterly reports filed for the IRS. The building and property need to be cleaned and maintained, supplies need to be purchased, mailings need to be prepared and mailed, and of course new articles have to be written and typed, and new cartoons have to be drawn so readers can continue to receive fresh material in this swell publication.

     I can (and I sometimes do) delegate some of these tasks to other people, and I appreciate help from others. But I do a lot of the mundane tasks myself. These tasks are boring, but I do not mind doing these boring tasks. Why? Because I am doing it for the Lord. I am being a doer of the work. It is a joy to be a doer of the work.

     If you are not doing some sort of work for the Lord, quit being like Maynard G. Krebs. Quit acting like you are allergic to work. Ask the Lord what you can do for Him. He will show you some things you can do. Don’t delay. Do some work for Him while you can, before you are too old and feeble, or too dead.

     “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Eccl. 9:10).

| DB