Actions speak louder than words
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
“Do as I say, not as I do”.
“Actions speak louder than words.”
You have likely heard one, if not both of those clichés. Think for a moment of the main point of both of those phrases is. Isn’t the main point that what you do is much more important than what you say? Another way to put it would be, “What you say is not nearly as important as what you do.”
That is, in a sense, the message of our Bible verse for this week. However, note that John adds two very important thoughts in addition to the idea of actions being more important than words.
First of all, John introduces the verse with these two words “Dear children.” That tells us that John is speaking to us as fellow Christians and encouraging us to live our Christian faith.
Secondly, John adds a very important concept for us as Christians “let us… love”. That little phrase reminds us that everything that we think, say and do should show and demonstrate love – the love of Christ.
Look again at our Bible verse for this week and do a little self-reflection. How well do you do as showing love not just with words or speech but with actions and in truth? The answer to that question is rather obvious. We all know that there are many times we mouth words which sound like they are supposed to be loving and then our actions betray us and we act in a way which is contrary to and conflicting with the supposed loving words we said.
I love the quote which is often attributed to the 10th century Christian leader, St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” That quote is a great reminder that much more important than trying to say loving words is letting the Gospel be evident in our actions. Another way to put that would be “You don’t have to speak at all to share the Gospel, make sure that it is evident in your actions.”
Think of how all of this ties in very directly to the ministry of The Lutheran Home Association. As we talk about “the care of the soul being the soul of care,” how often we have opportunities to preach the Gospel without saying a word at all. The way care is given to a resident, the way we interact with fellow team members or family members of someone we are serving can proclaim the Gospel loudly and clearly without having to say anything.
So ask yourself several things: “How clearly am I proclaiming the Gospel with my actions as I carry out my role in the ministry of TLHA?” “What can I do to better or more clearly preach the Gospel with my actions?”
The answers to those questions will be different for each one of us. But as you reflect on them let your answers lead you to determine how you can put into practice the encouragement in our Bible verse for this week.