By: Denny

“Do Actions speak louder than words?” I suppose in general many people would agree with that statement. We’ve quoted it or have heard it so many times that it unconsciously becomes a truth. Who hasn’t formed an opinion of someone else initially based on the way they act. First impressions tell a lot, but aren’t always accurate or complete. I think that sometimes, and in some cases, there is a deeper explanation underlying some actions that deserves to be explored. My wife works as a para in the high school. She is around all kinds of kids displaying all kinds of actions and behaviors that run the spectrum from violent to withdrawn. Even the way they dress and present themselves is an action that speaks either loudly or quietly. More and more kids these days come from dysfunctional broken homes. Some suffer physical and mental abuse or neglect, and they operate in the fight or flight mode to survive. Many are hurting deep inside and long for someone to talk to that they can trust. They “act loudly”, so to speak, to get noticed and gain someone’s attention. Lucy has had many kids confide and share their feelings with her because she encourages them and shows them kindness without being judgmental. We often misjudge them by their actions and label them, don’t we? Political correctness has stolen the life and identities of so many young people. Their actions speak loudly for significance, affirmation, and truth, but what are they given; a bunch of Woke nonsense, lies, deceptions, and social tripe. Our words spoken over and to them should shout louder than their actions. “You are loved”, “You have value and worth”, “I care”, then back up your words with even louder actions. Sometimes just listening can be the greatest action. Just saying.

Procrastination (continued delayed action) is basically an action that speaks louder than words. Hey, we’ve all procrastinated at one time or another, but some people just naturally seem to abuse the privilege. Has saying, “I’ll get around to it” become your most used phrase? Maybe it’s putting off balancing your checking account and paying your bills, replacing that bald tire you know is about to blow out, the report you promised your boss you’d have last week, playing video games when you know you should be studying for a test. Teenager, your mom asked you to clean your room and pick up your dirty clothes and you said, “I’ll  do it later.” So, where are you at with that? Has later become yesterday and your room is still a mess? How are you doing with all those New Year’s resolutions you vocalized or that last year’s project you started and said you’d finish but keep putting it aside. Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Did the card, flowers, chocolates, and words “I love you” given and spoken to your sweetheart make up for your procrastinating  actions this past year? Words lose their weight, no matter how appreciated, sweet, and poetic, when not accompanied by and linked to proper actions.  In-actions speak louder than words if you’re a procrastinator. Just saying.

I wonder how often people purposefully refuse to listen to words and permit actions to always speak the loudest. Someone did something that upset you and pushed your button, and you give them a piece of your mind. You’re so angry you don’t even want to hear any explanation or words from them, even if their actions were explainable, not meant for harm, justified, or logical. That doesn’t matter. You’ve been offended, your precious boundary was crossed, or you didn’t get your way, so you just write them off and stop talking to them. You have lost the ability to separate the action from the person, so you put them in the same box and close the lid.  “Actions speak louder than words”, is so fixed in your mind that you can’t see that now your own out-of-control emotional reactions are speaking louder than words. But that’s okay because the rule applies to others and not you. How easy it is to judge others by their actions without reflecting on your own. Just saying.

I don’t see as many bumper stickers these days like I used to. Maybe it is a passing fad being replaced by window decals. Who remembers the yellow suction cup window signs that said, “Baby on Board”? Okay, so what’s that intended to say? I’d like to think that it means there’s something very valuable and precious to me in this car and I drive accordingly, so please do the same and use caution around me. I can respect that; however, do you drive like an idiot going way over the speed limit, dodging in and out of traffic cutting people off, following too close, and giving the one finger wave to those in your way going slower? Have you forgotten about the baby? Your actions are speaking louder than your words. Permit me to meddle for a moment. Christian, take off your bumper sticker or window decal that says, “Jesus on board”, “I love Jesus”, “Honk if you love Jesus” if you are driving the same way. Have you forgotten about Jesus? People are watching you and forming assumptions and opinions of both you and Jesus, not only based on your driving but how you act. Your actions are speaking loudly and nullifying your words. By the way, the action of me honking my horn for Jesus proves nothing and is meaningless compared to the words of my testimony that I write and speak about and what He’s done in my life. Likewise, (and this will surely offend some people) I don’t “Like” or “Share” every single post that appears on my Facebook that mentions Jesus, has a Bible verse, tries to get me to honk my “Amen” horn, compels me to pray some pre-written prayer that is supposed to guarantee me a blessing, satisfies a bet you’ve made with yourself, or tries to guilt me into sharing it for the sake of compiling numbers. That may sound harsh, Scrooge-like, uncaring, or rude, but that’s not how I choose to use my Facebook or express my faith in Jesus.  I’ve noticed very few personal and originally written thoughts posted by my “friends”. Even Jesus directly asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Maybe my expectations for Facebook are too high. It’s easier to post something somebody else wrote that gets shared over and over with thousands of “likes” by fellow Christians sitting in the choir.  Is that what preaching the Gospel has been reduced to; Facebook likes and shares. How did we ever share the Gospel before FB and what will we do when it’s taken away? If God is doing anything in your life, post that in your own words, better yet go tell someone. If He isn’t, maybe you need to spend more time with Him and less with Facebook. There are so many people that Facebook can’t reach, and you may have the words they need to hear. What actions will you take to tell them other than on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram? We are losing our ability to communicate outside the digital world. I’m done meddling now, so you may unfriend, unfollow, or snooze me for stepping on your toes. Just saying.

You may say you are a Christian, but do your actions show it? Perhaps you’ve heard it said, “If you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence presented to convict you?” For the true believer in Christ your actions and words should be inseparable and prove it if you are living according to God’s word, the Bible. Jesus condemned the religious Pharisees because their WORDS and ACTIONS were in complete opposition to one another. 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is within you.” In other words, live in such a way that your actions speak so loudly that people will want to know what makes you so different, then be ready to speak to them the very same words that brought you to faith in Christ. Another saying goes, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” I think so many well-meaning Christians think that they can just love people to Jesus by their actions, which is commendable and opens the door, but that’s as far as they go. It’s the words of truth of the Gospel that bring light, life, faith, salvation, and has the power to change lives. We all need to be bolder in our speaking just as the Apostle Paul himself wrote in Ephesians 6:19-20  “That I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” When was the last time you told someone about Jesus? Just saying.

If you’re looking for a specific singular verse in the Bible that says “actions speak louder than words” you won’t find it, although the principle is revealed in many passages. Consider Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus says that people will be judged when they stand before Him for their actions in the things they did or didn’t do. Also, the parable of the talents where the individual actions of the servants was either rewarded or condemned. A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan came upon the half dead man on the road. For each of them their individual actions spoke louder than words. In the parable of the soils, the seed which was sown is the Word of God. In three of the cases the word produced no fruitful actions because their hearts weren’t right. They all heard the same words, but only the fourth group understood, which produced fruit bearing actions. Wasn’t it the words of Jesus that told Peter to come to Him on the water, cast out demons, healed the sick and lame, called Lazarus out of the tomb, rebuked the devil, and revealed the Father and principles of God’s kingdom. Think about this; when Jesus fed the five and four thousand with just a few loaves of bread and fish, he first spoke words of thanks and blessed them and gave them to His disciples to distribute. I believe the miracle happened as the disciples acted in obedience to Jesus’ word. Similarly, when Jesus turned the water into wine, as the servants obeyed and acted the miracle happened. The Bible is full of accounts where God spoke, and people responded with actions that brought deliverance, victories, and blessings. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God that when heard and understood demands our actions. James 1: 22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”  Jesus said He would return at a time and hour when least expected and warned us to be ready. It’s time to act on the Word of God. Are you ready or still procrastinating? Just saying.