If you have followed my writings any length of time, you surely know how much I like quotes and proverbs. There is a Chinese proverb that says, “To know and not do is to not know.” The saying is a lesson in spiritual integrity.
One can talk a good game. One can say anything. But without following up with action, the words are empty.
I love the parables of Jesus. These are stories told in such a way the hearers could easily identify and understand. Yet Jesus was always conveying a powerful spiritual message. One such parable found in Matthew 21:28-31, is the parable of the man with two sons. I immediately identify because I too have two sons.
The father gave the sons a job to do. The first son said, “I will not,” but regretted his defiant attitude and went to complete the task. The second son said, “I go, sir,” but he did not go. Jesus asked which of the two sons obeyed.
Jesus taught a great lesson by pointing out the first was the one to obey. It was a lesson in repentance. His defiance was not commended but his penitence and eventual obedience was.
John 13:17 – If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Can you see the Chinese proverb here? If you really know, then you should do.
How important is our spiritual integrity? How important is it for our words and actions to agree?
Matt 7:21 – 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.
Ezek 33: 31-32 – they hear your words but they do not do them.
3 John 3 – For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.
The truth that is in you. The implication is they know it.
Walk in the truth. The implication is they do it.
Talking and doing, that is spiritual integrity.
In 1 Thes 2:9, 10, Paul noted “we preached, and we behaved.” We talked and we walked.
To the Corinthians he said, “We are in word when we are absent and we will be in deed when we are present.” (2 Cor 10:11)
James 1:22 reads, But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Yep, the Chinese were onto something. To think otherwise is simply fooling ourselves.