The By Standers

Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.   1^st Kings 20:11

This verse reminds me of an excerpt from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1910, entitled “The Man in the Arena”.  I love this speech.  I have it framed and hanging in my office today.

“It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who actually strives to do the deed, who knows the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

This speech extols the one willing to do versus the one standing by just watching others do.  I have great respect for those willing to do.  Give me the person who wants to help not watch.  Give me the person who wants to be involved not spectate.  Give me the person who wants to be a doer not a talker.

I don’t want to be the critic.  I want to be the doer of deeds, the strong man, the man in the arena.

As we further contemplate this idea, let’s take a look at the account of the crucifixion of Jesus found in Matthew 27.

Verse 39 – And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads…

Verse 47 – Some of those who stood there…said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”

These two groups are described as those who passed by and those who stood there.  Both of these verses describe the by standers.  They observe and they talk.  They are spectators.

Contrast this with John 19:26.  When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by…

Jesus took note of His mother and His very dear disciple as they were standing by.

Note the difference between standing by and a by stander.  A by stander is an observer with no intention to help.  The by stander is the critic.  They are the ones who boast prior to the battle.

Those who are standing by are ready to help when the opportunity presents itself.  Those standing by are not by standers.  They are standing by.  While Jesus’ mother and friend were unable to help, no doubt they would have done anything in their power to help if given the opportunity.

Standing by.  By standers.  Big Difference.

As I go through life, I want to be one who is standing by. I want to be the doer of deeds.  Let me be one, looking for opportunity to do good (Gal 6:10).  Let me be standing by willing to help when I see the opportunity.  Let me be ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.  Let me look for opportunities.

Whenever those opportunities come along, let not my actions be done in order to be seen by men (Matt 6) but let my actions be done solely to glorify my Father in heaven (Matt 5:16).

I don’t want to be a by stander.