Don't Be a Clanging Cymbal

Walk the talk. Wishing someone well and offering them prayer is not enough. obviously, well wishing is preferred over having ill will toward someone, but it’s still not enough. Scripture says that faith without works is dead: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead, (James 2:16).

It’s a self explanatory command that God gives to us: Don’t just send anyone away wishing them well, do something about it! I think this is where we implement practicing what we preach. If we preach a love for our brethren then it only follows that we will actively do something to aid them in whatever area they need help. Granted prayer is useful, but completely impractical. Practice what you preach by meeting your brother’s needs and take a step further. If your brother needs a job - certainly offer to pray, but also help him find a job. If your brother is homeless, pray for him, but also offer him shelter. If your brother is without financial resources, pray, but also give him as much as you can to help him with one of his many needs. You see offering to pray is great, but incomplete. There has to be an effort to address the practical needs that another has.

During difficult times I’ve had multiple people offer me prayer, which is nice, but it did very little to change my circumstances which required immediate attention. The well wishing was appreciated, but to my surprise only a couple of friends truly showed their love for me by helping me in a substantive manner. As Christians we are God’s hands and feet. We’re supposed to help others in ways that they cannot help themselves. Generally, families or friends that love one another already practice looking out for each other, and this is what God wants His body of believer to be like. It's important that we practice what we preach, because otherwise it just turns into words and we become the clanging symbols referenced in 1 Corinthians 13: “If I do not love I become a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.” You can declare love all that you want, but if you aren’t fully acting on it, then it’s not love.

So please before you promise to pray for someone, also be sure to do something tangible and substantial to send them on their way. And may God bless you for your kindness.