Are you a doer or a hearer only?

I have a friend who has been faithfully exercising and eating healthy for over a year now.  Anyone can see that she has lost a lot of weight.  Many will look at her and say “I wish I could loose weight like that”.  Now I know my friend and she is willing to help anyone who wants to have a healthier life; she will guide them, she will encourage them, but she can’t do it for them. 

For anyone who will listen, God has told us how to live a blessed and prosperous life, but it’s going to be up to us to listen and to do what He says.  James 1:22 tells us: do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV) It then goes on to say, if you do what it says, you will be blessed in what you do. (James 1:25)

The NKJV puts it this way: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It’s going to take some doing! 

Just going to church on Sunday morning and listen to a great sermon isn't going to change anything unless you’re willing to do something.  It has always been God’s desire to bless us and that is why He tells us what we need to do. 

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” – Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (NKJV). Then the next 12 verses listed these blessings. 

My friend that I mentioned earlier sought to exercise and eat well.  She has found many other rewards as a result: more energy, healthier hair, better skin, and she sleeps better.  She didn't seek those things but they are a result of her seeking to eat better.

When we seek God, we can’t help but be blessed.  It isn’t what we seek, but blessings are the result of seeking God because they are part of the covenant.  They are what God has promised.

Jesus said: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (food to eat, clothes to wear vs. 31) will be added unto you. – Matthew 6:33

Are you a doer? Are you seeking the kingdom of God? Or are you trying to seek the reward and not God (the rewarder). 


Jesus said: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as your self.” – Matthew 22:37,39

Are you a doer?

Jesu said: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” – Luke 6:38

Are you a doer?

Jesus said: “And whenever you stand praying if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” – Mark 11:25-26

Are you a doer or are you a hearer only?