“Say only yes when you mean yes, and no when you mean no.” James 5:12 TEV
“Long after spoken, words may linger in a person’s heart or in their life, for good or bad.”
My thoughts today are: “careful what you say!”
It has been said with understated oversimplification, “words mean something!” Of course they do. With words God created all that you see and know of this physical universe. See Genesis 1:3/John 1:1-3/Hebrews 11:3 NIV. God obviously values the power of words.
My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Cook, in my elementary school in North Venice, Illinois, planted the seeds in me to appreciate words. She taught me to want to use them well. My Dad taught me to want to use them wisely. I remember my Dad talking about it being important to “say what you mean, and always mean what you say!” He considered that a man was never any better than his word. I probably still need to practice the lessons from them both!
The Bible gives a good guideline; “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 NLT. They can hurt or heal, encourage or discourage, teach or taunt, raise doubts or dispel them, inspire to greatness or incite to violence. Words are a priceless commodity used wisely and a tragic waste when squandered.
Sometimes a person may treat their words as though they mean nothing special. Words are flung into the air as though they are instantly disposable, evaporating with the hearing of them, but they don’t disappear even when you wish they would have. Everyone knows that words can linger for good or bad in another’s heart or mind – or in their life – long after they were spoken.
People use words they don’t really mean, just because they may feel that way at the moment. And when the feelings change, they wonder why their words still matter to someone that can’t just forget them. People use words to make promises they may not be as careful to keep. “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought . . therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2 NAS. Like everything else, too much of a good thing dilutes the value. There are words spoken I wish had not been, and times when words were left unspoken when I wish they had been. Good to know when to speak up; great to know when to shut up!
The Psalmist prayed this prayer, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord!” Psalm 19:14 NIV. That would probably be a good thing to ask every morning before you begin your day, and every evening when you return home. It’s good to have a Godly filter, and that honest prayer is the best one.
You will observe in life that no one will value your words any more than you seem to value them by making sure they are true, they are kind, and they are correct. Life will be smoother; friendships will be cleaner; misunderstandings and hurts will be fewer; apologies will be less needed, when you “say only yes when you mean yes, and no when you mean no.” Try it. I think you will be pleased to see how well that works.
My prayer for you today is: make your words count for what is eternal.