Doers of the Word and not hearers only

 I read something Charles Spurgeon said over 150 years ago and it struck me as odd. We as proclaimers of the Gospel understand (or should) the necessity of the Spirit directing us, the responsibility we have in ensuring we are bringing the Word and nothing else.

In his sermon "Let him alone" he brings up a concern that we have today. He said and I paraphrase that the listeners have a responsibility as well. They are not just tasked with sitting there, listening and then walking out. No the listener too shall give account of what they did with what they heard.

This is a novel concept in today's world. Personal accountability of all involved. The preacher preaches and if you do not get anything out of it whose fault is it? The speaker or the hearer?

When we stand before Christ at the Bema Seat, we all want to hear well done thou good and faithful servant, but do we understand what that means totally and fully?

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

How sad is it that the very same thing Spurgeon worried about, we worry about today?  How sad we have not learned from those that have come before, we still struggle daily with it.

James wrote of it, Spurgeon preached on it, Today I am mentioning it. Generations between us yet the same problems,

Truly there is nothing new under the sun. Whether good or bad.

Yet this leads me to yet another thought, why are some so longing for the Rapture whilst others are trying to not think on it?

Longing for it is far more understandable than the ones trying to not think on it.

Yet those of each category need to remember this, when Jesus Raptures out the church the days of work are over, the days of grace have ended.

Those that are saved are saved and gone, those left behind will face a future no one should wish on anyone.

If we are truly to be doers of the Word then I should think that there would be far more urgency in us, not less as is evident in the churches around me.

If we were doers of the Word, this world, this nation, my stste, my city would not be in the shape it is in. 

If it is like this now what do you think is going to happen when the Christians, The Spirit are gone from this world?

Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only.

We are going to account for every sermon we heard and did nothing with, we are going to give account for every action, inaction, Word said, Word not said, we will ever have had done did or uttered.

Spurgeon, Moody had the same concerns we have today. Peter and Paul had the same concerns we do today. Nothing new under the sun.

They kept on going, they fought the good fight. Are we? With the same vigor, with the same diligence?