Apples of Gold

I remember my mother using the phrase “Do as I say, not as I do” as a teaching tool a few times while I was growing up. She likely didn’t realize she was quoting part of a phrase from a book by John Selden printed around 1654. The actual line was: “Preachers say, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.” 

I’m not sure why he singled preachers out as the focus of his satirical sword, certainly many different occupations would have fit the bill just as well! 

I struggle to take advice from a mechanic whose car is held to together with duct tape, or a chef who serves me burned lasagna, very seriously.

Knowledge without application is worse than useless. It removes our excuses and increases our responsibility. When we know better but refuse to do better our footing is quite unstable. James puts this quite profoundly:

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:22-26

Probably everyone reading this has a pretty good idea what the Bible says. The question we each must answer is are we doing what it says?

James equates failure to apply the word of God to our lives through obedience with playing a trick on ourselves. Refusing to comply with the guidelines of Scripture becomes a game of make believe for the believer. 

If we put obedience off long enough, or downplay the necessity, we can find ourselves in a place where we no longer see our own flaws. 

Like a teen who fails to recognize the unpleasant smells assaulting their senses upon entering their untidy lair, we can become nose-blind to our own issues when we allow them to remain untouched by repentance and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Sound a bit far fetched? Well, not so fast. David, a man after God’s own heart found himself in this very spot. After committing adultery and murder to cover it up, David seemed to be moving forward as if nothing had happened.

So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest. David was furious. As surely as the LORD lives, he vowed, any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity. Then Nathan said to David, You are that man! 2 Samuel 12:1-7

David certainly understood that his actions were an affront to God. This wasn’t a mere few days, it was likely close to a year before these actions are addressed. 

David’s heart had grown cold and hard as he harbored unconfessed sin. He was likely miserable and I would bet a bit more cranky than normal as he attempted to cover up his actions. 

This visit from Nathan was a merciful wakeup call from God himself. The arrow hit the bullseye as David is shaken from his stupor and comes to himself. The result is one of the most beautiful and relatable Psalms, Psalm 51. The opening leaves no doubt as to the catalyst.

A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba…. Psalm 51 is a cry for mercy, cleansing and restoration. 

Sometimes we realize we have stubbornly refused to obey a biblical principle. Sometimes we are completely nose-blind and need a wake up call like the one given by James. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2