March 18 Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

If you haven't checked out the website lately for the latest changes, please do.  Our Salina tribe is filling up. A tribe is a peer-to-peer group. Perhaps you might know someone who would participate in a tribe. Click the word tribe at the left to learn more.

What actions are we doing today? Just like our body language or our words, our actions speak as well. Our actions are very important because others see them and if others are not seeing them that speaks also.

Entrepreneurs and leaders might need to be very conscious of this because they have at least three different sets of people watching. We have families, team members or employees and customers at a minimum. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Your actions speak so loudly, that I cannot hear what you are saying."

Have you given some directions to a family member or employee and acted in a manner that is not consistent with your request? I believe that we might meet with some resistance from our teams when that happens. Where might you find a conflict in your actions this week with the words you have spoken?

 This is one way to do an accountability audit on yourself. What is the first thing that you can do in the next seven days to bring your words and actions together?

In the book of Numbers 32:1 NLT, the tribe of Reuben asked for an exception to the normal allotment of land that was planned. Their business was that of taking care of flocks and herds. Before they crossed the river Jordan, they saw Jazer and Gilead which were ideally suited for their livestock.

That meant their business would certainly thrive it seemed. Why should they do anything else and risk their lives and miss this opportunity that is here now? Let us stay here, they thought. But Moses and the other leaders knew that their actions would be seen by the others and cause dissension.

 The leaders came up with a different plan so that the actions of the Reubenites would be seen by the rest of the tribes in a positive manner. It appears that they were not aware of how God was going to lay out the plan of how they were to divide the land.

We must be careful when we come up with our own plans where God might have laid it out for us. We must also be careful to remember that our actions speak louder than our words as well. Where are your actions speaking for you in a manner that is inconsistent with your words?

Are we claiming to be Christians to the world and then not attending worship because of our desire to golf, traveling sports for our children, or watching our favorite sports team on Sunday? Are we saying we love God, but our checkbook register shows little activity to expand his love with the treasures we hold?

What can you do in the next seven days to bring one of your actions in alignment with your words?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, thank you for your gifts and forgiveness. The world we react and act in is full of us sinners. You know our hearts and how we love you, but our actions fall short.

Although you know of our sins you have sent Christ to forgive us. We want to draw nearer to you. Help us align our words and our actions this week. May your love be more important to us than the enjoyment of entertainment. May your wisdom be more important than our quest for knowledge.

May our treasure in heaven be greater than our treasure here on earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,