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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“Talk is cheap!” This modern proverb takes many forms but this one seems to say it best for me. It simply means that it does not take any resources to talk. On the other hand, the doing of a thing is entirely another matter. If talk is all that is of importance and there is no proving of the proposition, I am the fastest man in the world; I can jump higher than anyone now living or who has ever lived. I can shoot straighter and ride faster! There is simply no end to my achievements if talk is all that matters.
The late and beloved Foy E. Wallace, Jr. used to say, “As goes the proposition, so must go the demonstration.” As a debater in the religious arena, he met every imaginable type and sort. Some claimed in his day (even as they claim today) to have miraculous powers in addition to revelations that are not contained in the Bible. Wallace was correct in affirming that words are cheap; he just said it in another way! To apply what he was saying, it might be summarized like this: “You claim to be a worker of miracles but the proof of the proposition stands or falls with your demonstration of the same!”
Jesus spoke of such things during the Sermon on the Mount. Hear His words: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7.15-23).
According to Jesus, the fruit of a man is far greater proof of who and what he is as compared to the words of a man. In fact, He predicted that when the Day of Judgment arrives, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’” These words however would be empty words. Under other circumstances, they might even be convincing words, convincing to others of less discernment and wisdom. However, Jesus response to words without the demonstration would be simple and forthright: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
“By their fruits…” is a great principle. Talk indeed is cheap! As goes the proposition, so must go the demonstration! It should come as no surprise that some in the day of the earthly ministry of Jesus apparently thought that they would be heard in heaven due to the length of their prayers! For this reason He warned, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6.7). I think one can say without fear of being wrong that God simply is not impressed by words! Oratory excellence and flamboyance are not prerequisites to prayer! In fact, there is biblical evidence that brief and humble prayers uttered in secrecy tend to please God over and above other types.
“By their fruits…” is more than a catchy phrase; it is a godly principle that deserves to find its way into the human heart and spirit; it deserves to be lived out in the home, the church, and in government. What a difference it would make if we all understood and practiced this principle!
Questions:
1. What is the “By their fruits…” principle?
2. Are long prayers wrong? What was wrong with those who prayed long prayers in Jesus’ day?
3. What does God favor over flowery oratory and length of speech?
4. How would the “By their fruits…” principle affect our culture if it were put into practice in all places and at all levels?
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