Don’t be a spiritual benchwarmer!
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 )
If you have ever been involved in organized athletics, drama, music or similar activities, you quickly realize that there are two kinds of individuals involved in those activities. There are those who are there seriously and want to give it their best and actually accomplish something. Then there are those who are involved for more of a social experience and are not always actively engaged or working toward the group goal.
Both groups hear the same instructions/game plan/program from the group leader/coach/director and the first group goes at it wholeheartedly, while the second group is not always so energetic or engaged. Sometimes that second group is referred to as the “benchwarmers”. They usually end up sitting on the sidelines, so to speak, and often aren’t involved in the action.
God’s Word to us through James in this week’s verse realistically tells us to not be a “spiritual benchwarmer.”
So, what is a “spiritual benchwarmer?”
We cannot look into anyone’s heart to see what they are truly thinking, feeling or believing, so as Jesus said “by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:16). We can only look at the way people act. So, a spiritual benchwarmer is realistically a person who hears God’s Word like other people, but doesn’t put it into practice in their life.
A spiritual benchwarmer might be characterized by the person who hears the encouragement of God’s Word to love, serve and help others and seems to consistently only think of themselves. It might be shown in the person who can recite the 10 commandments backwards and forwards, but as soon as they walk out of church, they are swearing like a sailor. The spiritual benchwarmer might be seen in the person who hears and nods in agreement with the mission festival speaker as they talk about sharing Jesus with everyone possible and that same person never speaks of their faith or even gives an indication that they are a Christian by their words and actions.
Perhaps this is a little bit uncomfortable to have to consider whether you have ever been a spiritual benchwarmer. But let’s admit it, it is often much easier to sit on the sidelines, rather than get involved in the fray and perhaps face some heat for living or speaking your faith.
James uses a phrase in the middle of this week’s verse which hopefully makes us sit up and take notice “and so deceive yourselves.” What James is really saying is “Don’t fool yourself by thinking that you can listen to God’s Word and then not do what it says. God doesn’t like spiritual benchwarmers.”