Do we deceive ourselves by having lots of great INPUT, while not really changing our OUTPUT?
I’m a total nerd and LOVE getting “input” as much as possible.
Podcasts, books, Conference talks, articles, conversations with others…
I try to fill my life with as much INPUT as I can, because I truly love learning!
I’m that slightly obnoxious friend that usually says, “Oh, I read something about that, and I learned…”
And I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
Learning is so fun.
And a lot of learning has been essential to my growth and development.
BUT
I have to evaluate myself from time to time.
Is all that INPUT actually making my OUTPUT better?
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22)
Especially from a gospel standpoint.
Are all the Conference talks and scriptures and podcasts that I’m listening to actually impacting how I behave and interact with others?
OR am I just tricking myself into thinking that “learning” how to be more Christlike and compassionate is the same thing as actually BECOMING more Christlike and compassionate?
I’m not knocking down learning about the gospel.
I literally love it!
Conferences, church lessons, Instagram accounts, books, scriptures…
Absolutely essential and absolutely enriching.
But I can’t fool myself that I have become a better person solely because I have great INPUT.
“If you want to know anything, you will have to do something.” -Rebecca L. Craven
Did the last Conference talk I listen to actually change how I talk to my family members?
Have the scriptures actually made a difference in how I live?
Did hearing that person’s story on a podcast make me more compassionate toward someone in my own ward experiencing the same thing?
Do my sources of INPUT lead me to have greater OUTPUT, or am I being deceived into feeling content with only the first half?
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
4 Responses
“Is all that INPUT actually making my OUTPUT better?”
I love scripture study in all of its forms, from books to newsletters to BYU Education week.
BUT I often wonder if I am DOING anything different because of all that information.
Great post.
Hugs,
Haze
Thank you! <3
I love this! I shared it with my seminary class as we discussed the doctrinal mastery in James 2:17-18. It was a great “real” example of how we can have faith (input) but we need to make sure our works reflect our faith (output).
And…it is also worth a deep ponder in my own life…thanks Cali!
That sounds like it was a great lesson! Thanks for sharing!