Willing and doing

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. – 2 Corinthians 8.10-12

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. That’s a key element of our Christian living. It is easy to talk about something and to be ready to do and to have all the best intentions and be well meaning. All that is well and good.

But all of that falls short without one thing. It is all meaningless unless there is a doing. The proof of the willingness is in the doing.

It is great to talk about giving. It is great to be ready to give.

When it comes right down to it though it all means nothing unless there is a doing. Wanting to give, desiring to give, and planning to give son’t do a whole lot of good unless we actually put the money in the plate. As long as our money is in our pockets it is not to going to pay the church bills or help the poor or support the pastor or missionaries or anything.

A willing mind – a ready mind – a touched heart - don’t mean anything unless there is a giving hand.