The a Proud Doer

Today we often hear exhortation to be a "doer".

Which in itself has a merit of Biblical truth through the many passages often quoted in support.

What I've observed though is that those who so exhort often at the same time, seem to drop spoil on actual Biblical doctrine and study of God's Word....often this is subtile .... Having just a flavor or edge of criticism. Likewise there is often an admission that one is not saved by your doing, i.e. Works. But it seems just a bit of self-righteousness does show through in the implied pride they have in being doers.

The final aspect of this line of thinking is it often is tied to a selected approach to "approved" scripture, some Bible passages never being mentioned, some books, chapters or verses never being read or preached. Lots of focus on new popular books and authors, again often with embedded Bible verse, but these are used isogetically, out of context and selected from so many forms of "translation" that they are hand picked to twist the meaning in a certain direction. Mention of God's wrath, eternal damnation, ugliness of sin and need for repentance ignored, with frequently the result that much more than should be is ignored, tolerated, or even celebrated.

Anyway perhaps this simple verse from Psalm 31 in some way addresses this area.

Psa 31:23    O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

Psa 31:24    Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD

Psa 31:18    Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Psa 31:19    Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Psalms 31:23 Gill

O love the Lord, all ye his saints,.... To whom his goodness extends; who are favoured with the blessings of his grace, as pardon, peace, and righteousness; and who particularly are sanctified by his Spirit, and have principles of grace and holiness wrought in their hearts: these, even all of them, are called upon to love the Lord, having that grace implanted in their souls; that is, to express it, not by words, but by deeds, under a sense of the love and kindness of God to them; and to join with the psalmist in an affectionate reverence of him, trust in him, and thankfulness to him, on account of his marvellous kindness showed him;

for the Lord preserveth the faithful; such as trust in him, believe in Christ, and are faithful to his word and ordinances, abide by them, and stays near his people; these he not only preserves in a providential way, but he preserves them in a way of special grace; he keeps them "from evil", as the Targum; from the evil of sin; from a total and final falling away by it; from the evil of the world, so as not to be drawn off from Christ and his ways, either by its frowns or flatteries; and from the evil one, Satan, from being destroyed by him and his temptations; and these are preserved safe to the kingdom and glory of Christ, by the mighty power of God: some render the words, "the Lord keepeth faithfulness" (i); he will never suffer his own faithfulness to fail; he is a covenant keeping God, and is always true to his word and promise;

and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer; such as all self-righteous persons are, and all that speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the truly righteous, Psa 31:18; who bear hard upon them, and oppress them; and such as antichrist and his party, who exalts himself above all that is called God; but in what those deal proudly, God is above them, an more than a match for them, and he sets himself against them; he resists them, 

(i) אמונים "fidelitatem", Gejerus; or "fidelitles", Ainsworth.