Our actions define us more clearly than our words and demonstrate our beliefs more accurately than what we profess. Our words stutter, but our actions speak with unmistakable clarity.
Does our onstage rhetoric belie our backstage behavior? Does our reputation hinge on an illusion maintained by an intentional lack of transparency?
Would our public persona ever be thought an identical twin of our private persona or are they completely unrelated? Do our actions bring God glory?
A Pennsylvania pastor in a neighboring county was charged with one felony count of patronizing a victim of human trafficking and a misdemeanor charge of patronizing prostitutes. His repeated backstage illegal actions contradicted his Sunday morning messages.
What do our actions communicate about who we are? More importantly, what do they tell others about who God is? We all stumble in many ways, but the most important thing about us as Christians is what our lives and good deeds reveal to others about God and His glory.
We represent Him. Do our words, attitudes, and actions bring Jesus and His church glory, or criticism, reproach, and scorn like the unbecoming actions of the referenced pastor?
The Apostle Paul did not say we preach in such a way that no one would stumble because of us. He said, “We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry” (2 Corinthians 6:3 NLT). The actions of his team revealed their hearts for God and others.
He wrote, “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God” (2 Corinthians 6:4a NLT). Their behavior revealed a God who was worth serving and suffering for.
They served God and others despite troubles, hardships, and multiple calamities (4b). They were beaten, imprisoned, threatened by angry mobs, worked until they dropped in exhaustion, and put up with nights without sleep and days without food (v. 5).
Their purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincere love (v. 6) proved God’s Holy Spirit power worked in them and their message was genuine. They served God and others whether people applauded and praised or despised and slandered them (v. 8).
They were ignored, near death, and beaten but alive and not killed (v. 9). They were joyful despite their aching hearts. They owned nothing but possessed everything. Though poor, they gave spiritual riches to others (v. 10). May that be our vision as well.
God chose us to channel spiritual riches to others to make them rich spiritually and in faith (James 2:5, Revelation 2:9). Only eternity with God will fully reveal their magnitude. I would guess Elon Musk is poor by comparison!
We help people have a rich relationship with God now (Luke 12:21) and encourage them with the awesome prospect of responsibilities and rewards in God’s kingdom (Luke 16:11).
We are rich in good works when we use our spiritual gifts to bless others (1 Timothy 6:18). We encourage them to join us by pointing them toward Jesus who became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9) to provide a rich, satisfying life now for all who believe in Him.
We remind them that they will share the future riches God’s children inherit (John 10:10, Ephesians 3:6) and in Christ’s glory (Colossians 1:27). Let’s live so no one stumbles because of us, and many become eternal spiritual trillionaires! See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
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God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 3,150 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 8,661 people. I invite you to check it out.
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