WALK THE TALK, TALK THE WALK

“People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:15-16 NRSV)

It is important that our walk matches our talk -- that the way we live our life is consistent with the way we say we should. Too many people talk the right stuff but don't live it.

I see another problem, as well. It is just as important that our talk matches our walk -- that what we say explains what we do. I see many people in churches doing marvelous deeds and good works in the community because they are Christian. But they don't tell people why they are doing it. Are they just nice people? Or is it really more than that? Are they doing it because of the difference Christ has made in their life and because they want to share that love of Christ with others?

Let's walk the talk AND talk the walk. 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry

#5949

TALK IS CHEAP

“Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” (James 2:18 NLT)

“Miraculous!”… “Revolutionary!”… “Greatest ever!” We are inundated by a flood of extravagant claims as we channel surf the television, [browse social media,] or flip through magazine pages. The messages leap out at us. The products assure that they are new, improved, fantastic, and capable of changing our life. For only a few dollars, we can have “cleaner clothes,” “whiter teeth,” “glamourous hair,” and “tastier food.” Automobiles, perfume, diet drinks, and mouthwash are guaranteed to bring happiness, friends, and the good life. And just before an election, no one can match the politician’s promises. But talk is cheap, and too often we soon realize that the boasts are hollow, quite far from the truth.

“Jesus is the answer!”… “Believe in God!”… “Follow me to church!” Christians make great claims but are often guilty of belying them with their actions. Professing to trust God and to be His people, they cling tightly to the world and its values. Possessing all the right answers, they contradict the gospel with their lives.

With energetic style and crisp, well-chosen words, James confronts this conflict head-on. It is not enough to talk the Christian faith, he says: we must live it. “Dear brothers and sister, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone.” (James 2:14) The proof of the reality of our faith is a changed life. 

-- From the “Life Application Study Bible” 

#5948

WALKING THE TALK

"Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (James 1:22 NRSV)

My conduct is the only trustworthy indicator of what I truly value. It is the difference between Christianity as talk and as walk. All of us value evangelism, but when was my last spiritual conversation with a person in need of faith in Christ? All of us value unity, but when was the last time I resisted the urge to say something negative about a peer? All of us value our families, but when was the last time I took a day off just to be with them (and turned off my cell phone)? 

-- Dr. Earl Creps in the “United Methodist Reporter”, January 7, 2010

#5525