Jeffrey Gitomer is quoted for having said, “My experience has shown me that if you have to say what you are, you probably aren’t. Think about that for a moment. ‘I’m honest,’ ‘I’m ethical,’ even ‘I’m the boss,’ or ‘I’m in charge,’ usually indicates just the opposite. Doesn’t it?”
Many years ago a used car dealer in our area called himself “Honest John.” Unfortunately, Honest John’s business practices were a good example of the truth of Jeffrey Gitomer’s observation. We should not need to advertise our honesty; if we are, it will show, and if we are not, all our words saying we are will not make it true. When words fail to match action, then the words are meaningless. Our actions are the true indicators of our character. We read in Proverbs, “Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.”
The wise man Solomon advises, “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” The man who brags about his humility is certainly lacking the very humility he is telling you he has. Solomon also tells us, “A fool also is full of words.” Rather than telling people who we are, we should be showing them by our thoughtful actions and kind deeds. We need to be doing more and talking less.
James has some wise words we should want to put into practice to truly live our faith: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Serving our Lord involves serving others. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to demonstrate this principle, and then explained, “So if I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must also wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.”
Let us get up and get busy caring for others. We don’t need to tell others how kind and thoughtful we are, for we will be showing them by our good deeds of love and thoughtfulness. Let us take to heart the words of our hymn when we sing, “Take courage, my brother, and be not fainthearted, Let none of your sorrows nor trials impede. But reach forth your hand and remember your brother. Forget all your troubles in meeting his need.” By putting aside our cares and daily duties to take care of the needs of others, we not only help them, but we experience relief from our own troubles.
David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes, O Lord.” Words are important, but they must be followed by appropriate action, or otherwise they are empty words. Let us glorify God in word and deed by meeting the needs of others. Our acts of kindness and life of service to our heavenly Father give glory to God, as Jesus tells us, “So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One