Less Talk, More Work

The ideal teacher: someone who can’t talk. — William Stafford

During Christmas Break of my last year of college I worked in a floor covering warehouse with a friend. As we "worked," we were always cracking jokes, talking, laughing, and... goofing around. Every morning, the carpet and vinyl installers parked their trucks in the alley, entered through the warehouse door, and walked to the front office to get their job assignments for the day. Most of them greeted us with a friendly smile and hello. However, there was one crusty old installer who came in each and every day, grumbling the phrase, “Less talk, more work.”

That’s all he ever said.

He wasn’t our boss, and my coworker and I would roll our eyes and laugh it off, but it always troubled me. How did he know we were talking more than working? Hmm… Did he know Proverbs 10:19: "When words are many, sin is not absent" (NIV)? Yipes.

There sure is a lot of talk these days.

Radio, TV, Internet, YouTube, Podcasts, Social Media,… talk, talk, talk! People are quick to “speak their truth,” telling others how to think and what to do. Criticism abounds. Judging others is the new norm, and opinions are shared readily... and loudly. It’s the way of the world, and has been for thousands of years. But it’s not the way of the Kingdom of God.

In AD 53 the church in Corinth was getting duped into thinking that a life of criticism, judgment, strong opinion and “talk,” were “spiritual,” and characteristic of the Christian life. But the Apostle Paul set them straight with this:

“The Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

                                                                                    (1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT)

(Or as the crusty old installer would say: “The Kingdom of God is less talk, more work.”)

When Paul mentioned “living by God’s power,” he was referring to Jesus, the epitome of “less talk, more work.” In John 1:14 it says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (NIV).

God went to “work” when the Word, the communication, the “talk” of God, left Heaven and lived in flesh and blood on the earth. The Word was God’s son, the person of Jesus, and He came to show us the heart of the Father and the way of the Kingdom.

Jesus didn’t just tell us how to live—He did it! He was kind, merciful, humble, patient, gentle, compassionate, forgiving, faithful, meek, obedient, just, peaceful, and loving. He fed the poor, healed the sick, forgave the sinner, turned the other cheek, went the second mile, and took on the very nature of a servant.

But it didn’t end there. Paul writes, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV). Wow. God not only told us He loved us, but He showed us His love through the “work” of the cross, where Jesus died for the sins of the world.

No wonder Paul said, “The Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

God help us. Are we talking more than working? How did that crusty old installer know?

“Less talk, more work.”