A PREMIUM ON WORDS
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:37).
Words are so important in the Kingdom of God and should never be used carelessly. Your real personality is revealed in words. Even when you think you’re joking, what you say could make or mar your destiny. Never take the risk to joke against the Word. Take Esau for example; by what some consider “mere words,” he forfeited his birthright to his brother, Jacob. Read the story:He was hungry and wanted food. Jacob, his younger brother, was making a pot of stew and he asked Jacob for some. Read their ensuing dialogue: “Give me some of that red stew—I’m starved,” said Esau. “Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn,” replied Jacob. “…I’m starving! What good is a birthright if I’m dead?” ...And he did it. On oath, Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That’s how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn” (Genesis 25:32-34 MSG). Very pathetic indeed! The implication was that when Isaac was to transfer the blessing to his older son, he conferred it on Jacob, instead of Esau, howbeit by “mistake.” But it had to be, because Esau, by his own words, had mortgaged the rights of the firstborn to Jacob. Even though it was obvious he (Esau) didn’t quite “mean” what he said, it was too late. We discovered later that he sought the same blessing with tears, but couldn’t get it: “For ye know how that afterward, when he (Esau) would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). Your words represent you; they mean everything. Don’t speak carelessly and say, “I didn’t mean it!” Speak truth. The Bible says the righteous studies to answer; he meditates to speak (Proverbs 15:28). Don’t be like Esau who had no regard for spiritual things, and disparaged his birthright with words. *Put a premium on words. Be a master of words as Jesus was a master of words, for by your words, you shall be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned.