IN GEAR! When a car is idling, the sound of its engine can be heard and fuel is being consumed, but it isn’t getting anywhere. Not until the vehicle is put in gear can the action of transportation take place. When it comes to our speech, though some seem to put their mouth in gear before their brain, our words ought to be such as to be going somewhere. What is actually being transported by our speech? Is it idle or do actions come from it? Jesus warned. . . “(36) I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, (37) for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV) The Greek translated “careless” here is “argos” which Strong’s Lexicon defines as “free from labour, at leisure” and “lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform.” W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words notes this word’s meaning as “denoting idle, barren, yielding no return, because of inactivity.” The word “idle” seems to be a very good translation; words with no follow through or action. Words that really go nowhere! The words we ought to be mindful of speaking are those which actually go somewhere because they mean something. They are words we are ready to back up with the action of our life. James addressed this practical lesson regarding our use of words where we read. . . “(15) If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, (16) and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16 ESV) Idle words! Empty words! Words devoid of activity! If the mouth is running and making noise while really going nowhere, what good is that? As John declared, loving is not to be just in word, but with action. (1 John 3:18) May it be so with us. Have a great day BEING ONE WHOSE WORDS RUN INTO ACTION!
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 09:01:24 +0000
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