[Originally written June 2002] Nearly 25 summers ago my friend Randy and I went with his father to the lake to do some fishing and swimming. The swimming area was close to a boat dock where boats of all kinds were being set into the water. As we were swimming, a Catamaran sailboat was launched and the wind caught the sails and was headed directly toward us. The wind was high so the sailboat skidded along at a pretty good rate toward me.
I was unable to swim fast enough to remove myself from danger. The sailboat hit me and continued away from me. I was not injured. Thankfully, I only suffered a slight bruise but to recall this is still a little frightening. Before this event my greatest worry was JAWS attacking us in Lake Travis. When we arrived back to the house, where my parents were, I learned one of the greatest lessons that I still remember today.
With great enthusiasm and elaboration I began to tell my parents about the “Sail Boat” episode, probably looking for a little sympathy. To my great surprise my parents’ reaction and reply to this event was something like, “Sure it did,” with sarcasm. I was beside myself. They did not believe what happened to me at the lake. HEY, I was run over by a boat! I had to get my friend to come over and tell them that what I was
saying was true. After he described what happened, my parents were grateful that there was little injury and that everything turned out okay. My parents explained that they did not believe this far out story at first because several times I had come to them with similar interesting and wild stories and would end them with, “Just Kidding.” I learned that day that always saying what you mean and meaning what you say is the best policy to follow. Have you ever done anything similar?
The Bible says in Matthew 5:37, “ But let your communication be; Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” It is important for Christians to be people of their word. When we say that we will do something we must follow through with it. Everyone should be able to rely upon what we say and what we do. What if Jesus had said that he would come again to take us to His home and then said,
“Just kidding.” This would be a huge letdown. There are times to have fun and entertain one another with appropriate stories. There is a time and place for everything. However, to “kid around” too often to cause a heightened reaction from
others may not be in your best interest in the future. James 5:12 reminds us, “but let your yea be yea and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” Also, Colossians 4:6 says, ”Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
May we all strive to have proper communication that is becoming of a Christian and pleasing to our Father in Heaven. The sooner we learn to be people of The Word and, that we are people of our word, the better off we will be and the more effective we can be in offering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our friends.
