Proverbs 8:1-9; Ephesians 5:6-21; John 6:51-69
Words
are important. We know the importance of words for communicating ideas. We also
know the importance of words for capturing people’s hearts and moving them to
action. Words like “hope,” “change,” “freedom,” “forward,” and “peace” convey
ideas that stir and excite people. Unfortunately, many of the ways in which
these words are used in our society rob them of their power. Detached from
action, important words are simply rhetoric. They are empty words.
Words
have an impact on us, even when they are empty words. That’s why today’s
Epistle lesson warns us, “Let no one deceive you with empty words.” It’s not
that the empty words can do any harm by themselves, but it’s that they rob us
of what we need for life. When we are filled with empty words there is no room
left in us for words that are full of life. This concept is further pictured
for us in the contrast between light and darkness. A life filled with darkness
has no place for light, just as a life filled with light has no room for
darkness. Likewise, if our minds and hearts are filled with the words that are
empty of life, we have no room and no place for words that are full of life.
So, how
do we avoid filling ourselves with empty words and occupy ourselves with words
that are full of life? Today’s lessons show us that to avoid empty words we are
to avoid the source of empty words and to be filled with the words of life we
must turn to the Word of Life. Like words in our other experiences in life, the
quality of spiritual words is found in their source. If the source is empty,
the words will be empty. But if the source is full of life, the words will be
full of life. It’s that simple.
As
simple as it may be, we still struggle with matching up words with their
sources. This is due in part to the deception of those who hold up empty words
as words filled with life. But it is more largely due to our tendencies to seek
out the words that we want to hear rather than the words that are full of life.
Knowing this tendency of ours, Jesus came into the world to speak the words of
spirit and of life. He confronted those who deceived with empty words and He
confronted those who preferred easy words. Instead He spoke (and still speaks)
the words of eternal life — words full of life for the fullness of life.
Audio file of the sermon "Empty Words and Words Full of Life."
Audio file of the sermon "Empty Words and Words Full of Life."
No comments:
Post a Comment