Empty Words

 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. (Ephesians 5:7-14 ESV).

 

I must confess that I have been fooled a time or two by product advertising. This is especially true during the peak of the pandemic when I was ordering most of our groceries online for curbside pickup. I especially like some of the times when I didn’t pay attention to uncheck the option for substitutions. Even now I still get fooled by the picture of a product on the bad without reading the actual description. Just the other night I opened a bag of “Broccoli Cuts” to cook along with some pork chops. The picture showed various cuts of the head with some small pieces of the stem attached. No problem there… that’s the parts I would keep and cook if I had used fresh broccoli. However, when I opened the bag it contained about 90% stem and 10% florets. Yuk! The picture was much like those used to describe so many food items – over embellished and fake!

 

The Apostle Paul warns the Ephesians about listening to “empty words.” These are those words written or spoken that are false. 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 culture rob them of their power. Detached from action, important words are simply rhetoric. They are 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. Be vigilant and measure everything you read or hear by the only real source of light which is found in the Scripture.