I don’t know about you, but I enjoy talking, especially about things I either really like, or things I really DISLIKE. You get me going about some of my big likes, the Chicago Cubs, bicycling, the and the outdoors and it’s hard to get me to stop. Unfortunately, I can go in and on about things I dislike. Sometimes that’s not a bad things,because I’m talking about things I’d love to see eradicated from this world, such as poverty, people who do not know Jesus, and the self center dress of our culture. Sadly, I can also spend WAY to much time doing things like whining, hold a self-pity party, and complaining about others. The problem with all of this talking is this: it really does not accomplish anything.
Let’s be honest, if we actually did good 10% as much as we talked we’d pretty much eliminate the problems of this world. If you’ve never read the first chapter of the Book of Haggai I’d really encourage you to do so. In that first chapter God uses the prophet Haggai to urge the people to stop talking and stop doing. Haggai served God 18 years after the people of Israel had returned from exile in Babylon. Right after their return they had begun rebuilding God’s Temple, but soon stopped. Instead of building the temple they spent their time, money, and energy building luxurious houses for themselves and focusing on their own wants and desires. They would often talk about building the Temple, but they never actually did the work. Haggai stood before the people and simply said this: go up into the woods, cut down trees for lumber, and do the work! Basically, stop yapping about it, and start doing it. We all need to do that more in our lives. We see problems in our homes, community, and world, and spend a lot of time talking (read: complaining!) about them. What would happen that, instead of our constant talking we actually took action? We started sharing the gospel with the unreached, gave to the poor and needy, volunteered in the ministry of our church, and met needs we saw with love. I’m here to tell you THAT would make much more of an impact then our words. What will you do today to be a blessing to God and others in a world with such big needs?
