Bishop Joemath – October 2023

Watchword for the Month

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – Jas 1v22

Dear reader/listener, communication is one of our most important instruments in life. Much is said, written and done about it in our time. Everything can go well and everything can go wrong if it is not handled with proper care. Are you also one of those who get highly perturbed and cross if things do not get done as you asked, wished or commanded? Experience has brought about proverbs such as: ”Action speaks louder than words”. Do you know any other?

Our greatest challenge in life is for us to get to know who we are, what we want to be and how to become what we want to be. I think this is specifically important for young people but also for people who are struggling with their lives. In such cases the discrepancy between saying, listening and doing becomes vital. The moment people get all these in line the path becomes clearer and easier. As long as we struggle to get these in place, we will struggle to be what we ought to be. So it is clear that it is not such an easy task but rather a lifelong commitment.

Paul once wrote: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the (wo-)man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) This is where I lately also have a serious problem with our preaching ministry. You have no control over what is heard and then even more so about what is done with it afterwards. How much of what you preach and teach become actions to change behaviour or the world around us? There is then also something called ‘selective listening’ which naturally leads to ‘selective doing’. One can safely say that all good preaching and teaching intentions are in vain if there are no deeds to show.

One of the simplest answers to this situation lies in the first step: always formulate carefully taking good care of wording and feelings. The words we share should be carefully chosen in order to say whatever we want to spell out without any doubts or clarity in order to get done what we think is important. You know the arguments that ensue when it comes to ‘Yes, you said so; No, I didn’t say it like that!’ This is also why it is especially important for the bearer of the word to be careful in saying: This is what the Lord says! Luckily we are covered by our Lord and his promise that his Spirit will be with us and guide us and continue teaching and declaring that word even long after we have spoken it. Nevertheless is the task of declaring God’s Word to his people an important one to handle with the absolute care. We are not just throwing words out there like seeds but have to take care as Jesus would when He spoke to us.

However, every word spoken foresees some reaction. I often hear the following response to what is said: So what are you going to do about it? What is your response to it? The worst feeling for a speaker is to see that nothing is being done about what s/he is saying. Let’s take a simple example: You step into a room and comment ‘This room is dirty’. There is no command or wish but just a simple comment. What should the natural response of those listening to it be? Well, clean it, or let’s clean it, or let’s get someone to clean it.

I think what I earlier referred to and is called ‘selective hearing’ is one of our big downfalls in life. We listen but do not hear. Or we listen and to not want to hear? How many times have you yourself responded on a request or statement like this: Oh, this is not meant for me! Like the cleaning of the room! Many reasons will be forwarded why a certain action is not for me. Yes, we all are guilty of it by doing what is called “to pass the buck”. In the end ‘we deceive ourselves’ as the text says. If I listen to the many complaints from our new neighbours it is all about people not listening to their leadership and doing simple tasks like keeping the area around the new block neat and tidy. They hear the request for neatness and tidiness but there is no response.

I think we need to pay much more attention to those two words “deceive yourself”. Somebody once wrote: “If we only glance at the Scriptures in a superficial manner, we will not be able to see (hear) what God is really saying to put his will into practice. The same truth applies when we walk out of a church service and say, ‘That was a good sermon.’ Too often we forget the content of the sermon simply because we make no effort to understand it… and integrate it into our lives.” (Africa Bible Commentary, p.1511) We are so much poorer if we just listen and do not do. I love that saying that says: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Yes, we are scared of it but should become doers of the word and not just listeners. It is the intention of the Gospel that each one of us will do what is expected of us to make his Kingdom come.

The other side of the coin is that if we do not do what is asked of us we tend to do the opposite. And, how often is doing nothing, not the same as allowing the opposite to happen!

Prayer: Dear Lord, you want us to become ‘Doers of the Word’. May your Spirit come anew and afresh into our hearts, ears and minds to help us moving from mere listeners to people who are eager to make your Words become alive and change this world into what you commanded us to be and to do. Amen.

Augustine Joemath (Bishop)