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| Life is Too Short for Idle Words |
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Greetings!
Today's devotion continues the series "Life is Too Short..." I think this is the last in the series but we'll see what happens next week. Thus far, we have examined the brevity of life and the need to focus for success in our faith walk with God. Today we will look at what God's word says about our words.
There are many theories about the number of words humans speak in a day but there is little concrete research. At best, estimates range from an average of over 8,500 words a day for women and 6,800 words a day for men. Some writers have tossed around numbers like 10,000 to 20,000 per day but have no data to back up the claim. At any rate, it is easy to conclude that we speak many words per day. The question now becomes, "what is the value of what we speak?"
I enjoy the wisdom found in the Book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs which is nearly equal to the number of days in each month. Thus, you can read a chapter of Proverbs each day and gain great wisdom from God's Word. With a quick read through Proverbs you will note the number of proverbs dedicated to speech. Why? Because God knows that life is too short for "idle words".
Life is too short for "idle words". An idle word is senseless, nonsense or not purposeful. The Greek word Jesus used was "argos" which we define as idle. The Greek translation was for a word that was inactive, lazy and not producing work. Thus, when Jesus speaks of "idle words" He is talking about words we speak that have no fruit. |
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Watch your Mouth ... God is!
33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
~ Matthew 12:33-37 ~ |
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Be a Good Steward of Your Speech
In Matthew 12, Jesus was teaching about His glory and nature and performing miracles, signs and wonders. The Pharisees, a religious sect of the Jews that didn't belive Jesus was the Messiah, were accusing Jesus of doing miracles in the power of Satan. Jesus rebuked them and began to teach about speech.
When we pick up the story in Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus is specifically rebuking the hard-hearted leaders for their accusations and sloppy speech. Basically, He was calling them out for blabbing their mouths about things they had no knowledge. He was letting them know that they will stand trial for their words. This trial will be in Jesus' court and not on earth! His words make me shudder!
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37)
Life is too short for idle words! Every word we speak is judged in Heaven! We had better watch our mouths and learn from God's Word about His standards for speech. To help, I have listed some Proverbs that directly relate to our speech. It would be great for you to study these Proverbs and then obey God's Word. Friend, God's word clearly announces that life is too short for idle words. Our speech is to be used to glorify God, help others and bring hope. Idle words are anything less than what God wants you to speak in any situation. In the days to come, you will have great opportunities to speak blessing, peace and love. Unfortunately, each opportunity also presents that option of idle words, lies, deceit, scorn and strife. Choose life! Choose love! Choose to recognize that life is too short for idle words and bless others with the mouth God has given you... Be His voice!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with God's goodness, grace, peace and love! |
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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