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Not Just Idle Words

I own a 25 year old car.  The body might be falling apart but the engine runs great and it idles smoothly.  Such idling is good.

Idling can also have to do with spending too much time doing nothing or being without purpose or being engaged in that which is pointless.  Such idling is not good.

What if I were to tell you that I know of something that is the about as far as being without purpose as you can get?  Would you want it?

Here is that something:  “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  (Deut 32:47)

Other versions of the Bible use some different words for that first phrase in the verse and such can be helpful in assessing how important the words really are:


“Not meaningless words…”

 

“These are not just useless words…”

 

“No empty word for you…”

 

“Not unimportant words…”

 

“Not useless words…”

 

“Of great value to you…”

 

And some of the other versions use words that shed some light on the second phrase of that first sentence to provide further insight into how the words impact our lives:

 

“But they are your life…”

 

“A message that gives life…”

 

“They mean life for you…”

 

“Your very life…”

 

The words are far from idle.  They give life and they mean life to us.

But if you would prefer the nothing or the without purpose or the pointless, then definitely pay not attention to the words!

And, if you don’t want life, then avoid them altogether!

 

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