IDLE WORDS
Matthew 5:35-37
“ ‘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. But I say to you that every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.’ ”
The word idle means “lazy” and has the inference of beings “unprofitable” – of no value. Some people cannot stand silence so they fill the air with palaver (prolonged and aimless discussion). A man of few words can say more in one sentence than a person who rambles on and on (Dad’s Ramblings?). It is said that President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address after another orator spoke for an hour. Which speech do we remember? Jesus may have had the words of the Wise Man in mind: “Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God [note the correlation of mouth and heart]. For God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). And James wrote at length about taming the tongue (James chapter 3). It is wise to think before I speak and not be like the man who “put his mouth in motion before his brain was in gear.” I truly want my words to be profitable and bring forth good treasure. I am accountable for what I say.
TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Words are important because they reflect the treasure in my heart.
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Have a profitable day. Love you.
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