Doers
and Complainers
(Minute Meditation - July/August 2004)
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court justice, once said, “The human race is divided into two classes -- those who go ahead and do something, and those who sit still and inquire, ‘Why wasn’t it done the other way?’” He lived a long time ago, but what he said then is still true today.
Every group seems to have its doers and also its complainers about what is being done. Where do we fit in? James tells us, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” As followers of Christ, we need to be working in the Lord’s service. We are fooling ourselves if we think it is enough to believe correct doctrine and avoid sin because, as James also notes, “Faith without works is dead.” Just as Abraham’s faith was demonstrated by his acts of obedience, we also must be doers, putting our faith into action.
Wayne Dyer, psychologist and writer, made an interesting comment on this subject. He said, “If you are what you do, then when you don’t, you aren’t.” Using this definition, from a divine perspective, there are a lot of people who simply aren’t because they are not doing anything worthwhile.
Just what is it that we are doing? What are we doing that will have any lasting value to the Lord, because when he comes he is going to ask us, “What have you been doing for me?” Solomon tells us that “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
Can we make a list of the things that we have done and are doing simply because of our love for our Lord? Or are we one of those who sit back and criticize the ones who are up and doing, like those in the second group described by Oliver Wendell Holmes? Jesus tells us that giving even a cup of cold water in his name will be remembered. There is one thing that the Lord cannot do: He cannot remember the kind and thoughtful things that we never did. So it is important for us to get busy doing for the Lord. We do not need to do big spectacular things, just acts of kindness for others, done in the name of the Lord.
We must not listen to those who sit on the side lines and complain about what we are doing, or say that it should be done a different way, or who shake their heads and say that it will never work and cannot be done. An old Chinese proverb says, “The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.”
Nehemiah answered those who wanted him to stop and discuss his building of the wall by saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease whilst I leave it?” We also shouldn’t let others interrupt us when we are busy doing, laboring in the Lord’s vineyard. We continually need to be active, filling our lives with the work of serving the Lord. Paul tells us, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” And Solomon advises, “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.”
In one of our hymns we sing, “Life is the time to serve the Lord.” The last verse says, “Then what your thoughts design to do, let willing hands with zeal pursue.” Let us get busy being doers of the word, doing all that we can do to the glory of God. Since we are what we do, and when we don’t, we aren’t, let’s not ever stop serving our God for as long we live, so that in that final day we may hear those welcome words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Robert J. Lloyd