You Know What to Do

One of the biggest yet obvious lessons I learned or re-learned about productivity and the Christian life this year is this: You know what to do, but you’re not doing it. You allow yourself to be confused. Often, to be productive people who please God, we don’t need more information; we need the strength and courage to take action.

At least, this is what I’ve found in my own life. 

I love acquiring information. Books, podcasts, and YouTube videos are among my favorites. Even this newsletter exists to provide information. But sometimes my quest for more information is simply a sophisticated way of stalling. It’s a form of procrastination. 

This doesn’t negate the times in life when you genuinely don’t know what to do. Should you accept a different pastorate? Should you leave ministry and go into secular work? Should you add another service? In these moments, you should pray for wisdom and talk to mentors. There are times when issues are complex and require an extended season of prayer and seeking wise counsel. 

And of course, there are other situations when you know what to do, but you don’t know how to do it. I can think of the projects in my home that I need to work on but I’m doing nothing about it because I’m not good at fixing things. I have a vision of what my house will look like but don’t know how to make that vision a reality. 

There are times in life and ministry when you don’t know what to do, or you don’t know how to do something. But in truth, most of life does not require more information or a new set of skills. In more cases than not, we know the next step, but something stops us from taking it. Usually, it’s fear, perfectionism, or procrastination. It’s like a mysterious force prevents us from moving. 

Consider, for example, the idea of fat loss. You lose fat by eating fewer calories than you consume, referred to in the nutrition world as a “calorie deficit.” Unless you have a significant health issue, for most people in the world, if they eat fewer calories than they burn, they will lose fat. But for many factors, especially living in our prosperous 21^st century age where food abounds, it’s difficult for most of us (including me) to follow through on eating fewer calories than we burn. We know what to do, but we don’t do it. 

Or how about retirement money? I’ve had the misfortune of witnessing people work for decades, only to have little to nothing to show for it in their retirement years. There are providential hindrances and extraordinary circumstances that prevent some from saving. I’d probably be clueless about saving for retirement were it not for the internet, something that wasn’t around in previous generations. But wisely investing a modest amount of money monthly for decades can lead to great financial provision. Something deep down tells us to talk to the HR person, learn the difference between a stock and a bond, and ensure my 401k is being maxed out. We know there is wisdom in saving and investing and admire those who are diligent in their finances. But we don’t do it ourselves.

Ministry is not easy, but it’s simple. What God calls you to do is not rocket science. Most of life and ministry is simply the ability to take the next step in faith. At the risk of oversimplifying, Christian ministry is about loving Jesus and helping others love Jesus. Growth in the Christian life comes from the Holy Spirit as we appropriate ordinary means like Bible reading, prayer, and meaningful local church involvement. I’m thankful God has not ordained a world where Christian ministry and Christian growth are like complex algebra problems to solve, but like a boy learning to walk and depend on his parents for his needs. 

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17). This is a go-to text when speaking of sins of omissions, the good that we’re supposed to do, but aren’t (versus sins of commission, which is blatantly doing wrong). Of course, James’ words speak to ethical Christian living and obedience to God, but derivative of his point is the understanding that we often know the thing we should do, but fail to do it. 

It’s been said repeatedly that we live in an age of information, but not an age of wisdom. Wisdom, as Tim Keller would say, is the ability to make the right choices. What’s equally true is that we live in a day of information paired with inaction. We watch videos on social media and listen to podcasts, and then do nothing with the newly acquired information. In addition to praying for wisdom, we need to pray for courage and power to move forward in faith.

The next time you’re paralyzed by inaction, ask yourself why. Is it because you don’t know what the next step should be, or how to take the next step? Or is it because you know what to do, but aren’t doing it? Don’t just pray for wisdom. Also pray for strength and courage to take action on doing what you already know you should do.