Chapter 4

Actions

As living organisms, we are always bodies in action; whether we are simply taking a nap or running a major corporation. Our bodies were made for activity: physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual movements. God created us to be active because He is an active God. Psalms 106:1-2 says, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?” We can learn several things about people if we look at their actions.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

We have all heard the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” but do we really think about what this means? The ramifications of this are profound. For instance, if you say that you love your children, yet you do not act lovingly towards them, then should we believe that you really do not love them? And if you say you love your job, but you come to work late, miss a lot of days and leave early, what does this tell us? Actions do speak louder than words, but sometimes we do not listen to them.

I John 3:18 encourages us, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. Think about that for a moment. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue. Let us love in deed and in truth. Do you love in word or do you love in deed? Which love do you think comforts, encourages, assists, calms, develops . . . ? Of course, the love in deed. As Christians we are to love in deed.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.^{^[1]}

If we do not show love to others, how are they to understand the Love of God? If they cannot see it in God’s people, how will they see it? God leaves Christians in this troublesome, dangerous world to reveal his Love, Hope and Power to the unsaved, not because He wants us to suffer. It is to reveal His Love through our deeds to the unsaved so they will come to understand and accept Jesus Christ. We should always try to show Christ’s Love to all people, while we still have time. 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.^{^[2]}

Actions Reveal True Character

Through our actions, we reveal our true character. As Christians, we should emulate Christ and reveal His Character through our actions. That is what being a Christian is all about. It is not necessarily about doing the right thing because you should. You should be doing the right thing because it is a natural part of whom you are. In other words, if we have Christ’s Character, we will do the right thing, because it has become our nature to do so.

How do we know what the right thing is? We know that some actions, such as murder, lying, theft and rape are not acceptable. But why are they not acceptable? Is it because of God has forbidden that kind of behavior or because society has said it is wrong? Our sense of right and wrong should not be dictated by what society says, because society is always changing according to man’s whims. We should always determine right, wrong and truth by what God says. That is why God gave us the Holy Bible. So we would not have to guess how we should live but that we would have a direct, concise guide of what we are to do and not to do. If we use His Holy Word as our reference point, we can determine a person’s character by their actions. For example, from reading the following Scriptures, what do you determine God’s Character to be?

For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.^{^[3]}

The works of his [God’s] hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.^{^[4]}

The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.^{^[5]}

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.^{^[6]}

Of course, we can know that God is True, Right, Accurate, Righteous, Good, Tender, Merciful, and Holy. We know this because God’s actions reveal this to us. What do your actions reveal about your own character? Proverbs 20:11 reminds us that, Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. It is important for us, not only to understand how our actions reveal our true character, but also to take responsibility for our actions.

Take Responsibility For Your Actions

There is the old joke about “How many innocent men are in prison?” and the answer, “They all are.” What does this mean? It simply states that if you ask an inmate, usually he will reply that he is there because he was framed, not because he committed the crime. They often profess innocence. Of course, as citizens being protected from those very criminals, we often disbelieve these protestations. It is human nature not to want to take responsibility for our actions.

The perfect example is in the original sin. When Adam and Eve were discovered by God after having eaten the forbidden fruit, what was Adam’s reply? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.^{^[7]} Adam blamed God. Whom did Eve blame? She said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.^{^[8]} She blamed the serpent. Neither one of them took responsibility for their actions.

Although we may try to deny it, each of us is responsible for our own actions. We may not face up to our actions voluntarily, but eventually, we will be held responsible for them. If not by society, then by God:

The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblers, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.^{^[9]}

Not only will we be judged by our actions, but God will also judge our inactivity as well. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.^{^[10]} If we do not do the things that we should, we will one day face those consequences also. Whether we like them or not.

What about the person who says they were forced into acting one way or another? Will they be held accountable for it? Yes. Because no one can force you to do anything. They can create situations where you may not like the consequences, but they cannot force you.

For example, if some friends tell you to shoplift from a local store and you get caught, you will be the one to be taken to jail and charged with shoplifting, not your friends. Because you choose to shoplift; they did not make you. You did it because you didn’t want to stand against your friends, or you were afraid they would not accept you, or you did not want to appear to be afraid. Whatever the reason, you did it.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.^{^[11]}

Motives Are Sometimes More Important Than Actions

In Jeremiah 17:10, God says, I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. The Bible consistently warns us that God will judge our actions and that we should not judge other people. The reason we are not to judge others is simple: We do not know the motive behind the action.

Sometimes people do the right thing but for the wrong reason and sometimes the wrong thing is done, but with good intentions. Only God can read the heart to know the true motive. The worth of a man’s actions are based on the purity of his motives.

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.^{^[12]}

It is more tragic to do the right thing for the wrong reason than to do the wrong thing for the right reason. Paul warns us of people who appear to be doing the right things but for the wrong reasons:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.^{^[13]}

This passage describes people who are acting like apostles of Christ, or Christians, yet they are deceitfully working to destroy the Church. Although their actions seem pure, God knows that their motives are improper.

Let’s look at the example of a minister who creates a vast Christian empire: huge church, lots of smaller ministries and outreaches, maybe even a television show and some books. This minister may actually be serving God and doing what God wants him to do or he may seeking the attention of millions of people and trying to exercise control over them. Although he may fool the people for a while, as some have done previously, he can never fool God. The Bible reminds us to, Talk no more so exceedingly proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.^{^[14]}

Actions Have Consequences

Beside having a motive (good or bad), our actions have consequences (good or bad). The greater the action, the greater its effect. Science teaches us that energy can only be transformed but not destroyed. When we act, it creates a ripple effect like a stone thrown in the pond. The bigger the stone, the bigger the rippling waves. Actions are just like the stones.

We can use our actions either negatively or positively; therefore, to continue using our analogy of the rippling pond, the waves can either be small or large and positive or negative. Think of your actions like that.

What you do can either be large or small, positive or negative. Whatever the outcome, you are responsible for your actions. No one else is. Therefore, you have to be willing to accept the consequences of your actions, whether they are small or large, positive or negative. The Scriptures warn us that we will be held accountable according to our actions: And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. . . ^{^[15]} and Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.^{^[16]} It also tells us the consequences of both.

We read in Proverbs, When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him^{^[17]}. and Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him^{^[18]}.

It is clear that there are good and bad consequences. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting^{^[19]}. What are you sowing? What will you reap? Don’t believe that just because you have done some bad things and they haven’t caught up to you, that they won’t. Revelations 14:13b warns us that, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. We will all bear the consequences of our actions eventually, even if it is on the other side of eternity.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.^{^[20]}

Additional Scriptures: