WELL SAID WELL DONE

(Well said must lead to well done, and well done will lead to well said.) 

Judges 11:29-40 

 Illustration: BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD

            There is a story of a missionary in Korea who had a visit from a a native convert who lived a hundred miles away, and who walked four days to reach the mission station.  The pilgrim recited proudly, without a single mistake, the whole of the Sermon on the Mount.  The missionary was delighted, but he felt that he ought to warn the man that memorizing was not enough -- that it was necessary to practice the words as well as to memorize them.

            The Korean's face lit up with happy smiles.  "That is the way I learned it," he said.  "I tried to memorize it, but it wouldn't stick.  So I hit upon this plan -- I would memorize a verse and then find a heathen neighbor of mine and practice it on him.  Then I found it would stick."

The man in this illustration has found the key to effective Christian living.  He learned the scriptures but rather than just say them to someone else he learned to practice them.  This caused them to be real for him, and his actions benefited those around him.

James 1:22-25 - If you hear the word, confess that you believe it to be true and yet do not do what you are hearing and saying, you deceive no one but yourself.  The sinner is not deceived into believing you are saved.  He will simply call you a hypocrite.  Those who are saved will eventually see the falseness of your lifestyle and question your commitment.  God is never deceived and the devil knows that you are acting out his will.  Who then is deceived.  It's like looking in the mirror and telling yourself you look cute or handsome while seeing that you have cold in your eyes and dried drool around your mouth and then leaving your house.  The blessing comes according to verse 25 when we look in (or study the word), continue in (live by or practice the word), and do the work that is commanded therein.   Within the Word is a lot of work that we as Christians are commissioned to do.  If we are to be effective ambassadors for Christ we must have as a priority the work that Christ has for us to do.

            Often times living out the Word and doing the work therein requires a sacrifice on our parts, but when that sacrifice is made God is glorified.

Illustration: GIVE TO HIM THAT ASKETH   

            Rev. Henry Richards in an effort to preach the Gospel to the natives around him decided to begin with the book of Luke.  Each day he would translate 10 or 12 verses, and then expound on them.  When he came to Luke 6:30 a great difficulty appeared.  He was confronted with the words "Give to every man that asketh of thee".  He decided it would never do to read this verse to the people, for notorious beggars that they were, they would ask for everything he possessed. 

            He turned back to chapter 1 and started again to allow more time to think about this verse.  The more he thought the more convinced he was that it meant just what it said.  So when he came to it again he read it and expounded on it.  At once the natives began asking for his things.  Without hesitation he gave what they asked.  Soon most of the things he had were in the hands of the natives.

            Then they talked among themselves and decided this must be God's man, for never had they seen a man do things like this, and never refuse a request.  Then they started to return the things until all had been restored.  Rev. Richard's obedience to God's Word started a revival among these natives which soon banished heathenism.

            When we do as instructed by the Word we don't always get what we ask for or receive in return from others what we have given, but our obedience glorifies God and we are called to that purpose.

            Many people followed Jesus not because of what He said but because of what He did.  He used miracles to get the attention of the people and then he would speak to them.  He met there physical needs first and then spoke to them of their spiritual needs.  However everyone that Jesus fed didn't follow Him.  In John 6, when the requirements got tough many of the disciples left.  Everyone will not seek God because of what we do.  But for sure if we do not do as we say, we will be the excuse for many not seeking God.  And there are many who will follow after us in search of the Spirit of God in us, if we can fulfill the miracle of living out the Word.

            However the emphasis of this message is not on locating in the Bible a list of do's and don'ts for Christians.  The focus here is on Christians doing what they say they will do; not just scripturally but in everyday practical living also.  The emphasis is on keeping your promises, fulfilling pledges and vows, honoring your word, etc.  You see most people know exactly how to say the right thing to get what they want.  We live in a society where it is acceptable to promise what you cannot deliver if it gets you what you want.  This is especially true in the political arena.  Candidates determine what it is the public wants to hear and then they base their campaign around saying the right things, whether they really hold to that belief or not.  There are men who sweet talk women, and women who portray themselves to be something that they are not.  It's all in the game of getting what you want, even if you cannot deliver later.  But that is the world's way of doing things.  It is not God's way.  If a person is to be honorable his or her word must count for something.  An honorable person will honor their word.

            WELL SAID MUST LEAD TO WELL DONE.

Matt. 21:28-31. - One son said he would go but he just never got around to it.  That can be so much like us.  It is easy to make promises or to say we will do something but when it becomes time to do that thing something else comes up.  Or even better than that, the truth that we never really wanted to do that thing surfaces and we look for an excuse to back out.  What the son said was right but what he did was wrong.

     The other son was initially honest about his feelings of not wanting to go and he made no promise to go.  However he later saw his sin, repented and did as his father requested.  What this son said was wrong but what he did was right.  You see living for God is not in the talk but in the walk.  It's not in how many scriptures we know or how many promises we can spurt off; it's in the day to day living of the word.  Being saved is not in repeating Romans 10:9-10.  It's in being committed to living God's will for our lives and putting into practice God's written will for us.  God always honors His word and Jer. 1:12 says that He hastens to perform His word.  Not only does God honor His word it is His will for us to honor our words.

Deut. 23:21-23

            The Bible encyclopedia defines vow as a serious promise or pledge.  Vows are normally made to God, but  can be made between two people and are still to be honored as one would a vow to God.  Vows are voluntarily made of one's own free will.  In making a vow Deut. 23:23 says whatever you say you will do, you must do, because you vowed freely with your own mouth.  God does not force us to make promises and neither does anyone else.  We choose to make promises and God expects us to honor them.

Eccl. 5:4-6

            It is better not to make a promise or vow at all if you are not sure you can keep it.  When it is time to fulfill the promise saying that it was a mistake to make it will not do.  We are told to do all to the glory of God.  This includes how we treat one another.  We hopefully would not with ease break promises made to God but yet we find no problem in breaking those made to one another.  Consistent breaking of promises will mark you either as a liar, as untrustworthy, or undependable.  It is a bad witness.

Ps. 15:1-5

            Who will have permanent residence in the presence of God?  Vs 3 says, he who "has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man".  Many times we do not intentionally slur someone's name, but because we do not follow through on our promises, someone's name or credibility is affected. 

            Sometimes Christian brother and sisters agree to share living quarters and to split rent and other expenses.  Though one person may put his or her name on the lease or utilities, it is clear that all persons are to share equally in the expense.  Unfortunately there are some persons who now have extremely poor credit because they have been left by there sisters and brothers with extremely high phone and utility bill which they could not and should not have to pay alone.  But maybe because it was not their name on the lease or their credit being demolished there is no urgency in paying the bills by the others who promised to help.  If you leave someone else holding the bag for bills you created, if they cannot pay, you cause their name to be slurred.   None of us would like to be in that position, nor do we expect it when dealing with brothers or sisters in the Lord.  However when finances, time, supplies, etc., get tight the promises that have been made seem to take back seat to the desires we have.  Sometimes our words mean nothing to us.  But in the sight of God WELL SAID MUST LEAD TO WELL DONE.

            EXAMPLE:  Work situations:

            1.  take job and half do the work.  Do no more than must be done.

            2.  show up late or sometimes not at all.

            3.  work for another AA will be sloppy, and lazy.

            4.  getting a recommendation from someone and then not doing your best.

            I COR. 10:31-33, 

            COL. 3:17

PS 15:4 - Who will have permanent residence in the presence of God?  Vs. 4 says, he who keeps his oath even when it hurts.  When someone must be hurt or must sacrifice for a  promise I made, then it should be me, not the person to whom the promise is made.

Judges 11:29-40

            Jephthah in his desire to have God's blessings on this venture made a rash vow.  Hebrew scholars translate the vow as "whatever comes out of my door first to greet me when I return, I will consecrate it to the Lord, or I will offer it for a burnt offering."  Jephthah in making this vow did not do three things which made this a rash vow.

            1. He did not consider all the possibilities - He did not consider the fact that his only daughter might be the first thing to come out of his house.  Her exit was not unusual.  It was customary for the young girls to come out to greet returning victorious soldiers.  When making a promise we should look at the obvious what ifs.  We may not be able to account for all the  unexpected occurrences.  But we  can consider as many conflicting events as we can think of.  What if that extra money does not come in the mail?  What if I  cannot find a part-time job?  What if I cannot get  the car out of the shop on time; or what I cannot get this task finished in time to begin a new one?  We can ask ourselves questions which may keep us from making unrealistic promises.

            2. He did not determine if each possibility had a reasonable and acceptable outcome. - He did not consider that if his daughter came out first, dedicating her to the Lord would leave him heirless and without a means of carrying on his name in Israel.  To cut off one's name in Israel was not an acceptable outcome for a voluntary vow.  But since Jephthah did not think through his vow prior to making it, he left this as a possible outcome.  We need to consider before making a promise if things don't work out the way we expect, then will I be willing to give up this or that or to do this or that to see to it that I am able to keep my promise.

            3. He did not clarify the terms of the vow. - In making a vow, promise or oath, it                should be clear what the expectations are and exactly what is being promised.                  The way Jephthah's vow reads, one who did not know the law,  would feel  he                did not keep his vow.  The law forbade human sacrificing, so it is understood                that he would not be offering his daughter as a sacrifice. Because vows and                promises are voluntary one may set the terms on them, but the terms should                always be clear.

            Jephthah when he saw his daughter come through the doorway realized the mistake he had made in making the rash vow.  Though it might have been possible for him to redeem his daughter back by offering payment to the priest, Jephthah knew that he had made a vow to God and that the vow should be fulfilled according to the law.  The vow, like many of the promises we make to God, sounded good and righteous coming out of the mouth.  But it is the performing of the vow, not the announcement of it that is acceptable and honorable.  It is not making the wedding vow, but performing the vow that makes a marriage.  It is not repeating the scriptures but its living the scriptures that gives evidence that one is a Christian.  It is not what we say in life, but rather is what we do in life that counts.

Matt. 25:21

            Because we are under the magnifying glass of the world, we are always being watched.  If you fail or don't live up to the standard, someone will talk about you.  If you live holy, keep your word, work and live to the glory of God, someone will still find cause to talk about you.  When you have done well, it may not on every occasion lead to others speaking well of you.  But I Peter 3: 16-17 says Have a good conscience, so that when they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed for falsely accusing you.  For it is better that you suffer for doing well than for having done evil.  People may not always acknowledge that your well said has translated into well done.  But because of the parable of the talents, we have the assurance that when we are faithful even in the little things, that we will find an inheritance with God.  For when we have done well, our Lord will speak well of us to the Father.  Well said must lead to well done and when we have done well it will lead to well said of us by our Master.

Invitation: Jesus said in Matt. 7:21, "Not those who only say 'Lord, Lord' but those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven". 

You see

WELL DONE IS BETTER THAN WELL SAID.