Reading
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 1:22-27
Reflection
One of the major blessings in my spiritual life recently has been the practice of retreat. I’ve attended a few group retreats in the past, but I had not taken a retreat by myself until last year. It was a profound experience. I spent 24 hours in solitude and prayer, paying attention to what was really happening in my interior life, resting my body, and resting my soul in God. My spirit thrived in that environment, and I felt like I was attentive to God in ways that I am not in my everyday life.
Obviously, though, I can’t spend every day on retreat. Eventually, I need to come home, care for my wife and children, and go to work. Retreats clearly cannot replace the rest of my life—their purpose is actually to help me to show up better in my life with God, my family, the church, and the community.
The idea of spending every day on retreat may seem absurd (unless you are a monk), but there is an equally absurd, if less obvious, error that many Christians fall into: separating faith and action. We might also think of it as separating our “being” from our “doing.” James addresses this error in terms of hearing and doing: “Be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”
We might imagine the temptation to be “merely hearers” of the word as reading the Bible, listening to sermons, and spending time alone in prayer, but never doing anything about any of it. Of course, this is not to say that one can be just a “doer,” either. If we do not take time to listen, study, and pray, we will not know what God is asking us to do—we’ll be very busy, but not necessarily with the things God wants us to be doing. We need to both hear and do.
On Sunday, Pastor Mark said, “Religion consists of more than devotional exercises and requires we serve those around us who are hurting.” If we spend hours alone in prayer—or on retreat—and don’t actually do anything, we are missing the point. We need both prayer and action. Jesus teaches and models a life of both.
As you think about your faith life, is there one side you are favoring more than the other—spending time in devotion while neglecting action, or vice versa? Reflect and ask God what it might look like for you to find balance in your being and doing.
My next retreat is scheduled a few weeks from now, and I am very excited to step away and spend time with God. When it ends, though, I will remind myself that time in solitude is not the goal—it is a source of rest and connection with God so that I can return to my life and relationships with the power and clarity to do the things God asks me to do.
Prayer
New every morning is your love, great God of light,
and all day long you are working for good in the world.
Stir up in us desire to serve you,
to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation,
and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
(from The Upper Room Worshipbook)
