METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE: LET YOUR NO MEAN NO

LET YOUR NO MEAN NO
BY PAT GULLEY

James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (KJV)

Isn't it great when you know you can take someone at his or her word? If you ask them to do a certain thing and they say 'yes' you know you can count on that thing being done. If they tell you no, then you know that it will be futile to continue asking them or begging them because you know that their yes means 'yes' and that their no means 'no.'

God's Word is like that. He says what He means and He means what He said. I find great comfort in that. The Bible teaches us that there is no variableness or shadow of turning with our Heavenly Father. (James 1:17)

We find this same characteristic trait in His Son, Jesus Christ. We have read in the Letter to the Hebrews that the Son was made in the exact image of His Father. (Heb 1:3)

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV)

We also read in the Book of Genesis that God created mankind in His image. That means that you and I are capable of choosing our words and following up on those words. The ability to choose our words is one of the many things that separate man from animals. (We are more than a thumb above the animal kingdom.)

This capability is so dramatic that God said that we would be judged by the words we speak. (Mt 12:37) The Prophet Malachi told the Nation of Israel that they had wearied God with their words and that they had been hard on God with their conversations concerning Him. (Mal 2:17; 3:13) It truly boggles my mind to think that we too often speak words without giving any heed to the results of those words. The Apostle Paul told the Church at Galatia that they would reap the harvest of the words they speak.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (KJV)

It is very obvious that your words reflect you and your values. As a parent you need to be consistent when talking to and teaching and training your children. Can they trust you? Do your words mean what you say? Do you say yes to them one day and say no to the very same thing the next day? Do you ever promise them that if they do 'this' or 'that' one more time they will suffer a consequence that never comes? This makes it very hard for them to believe what you say.

And do you really expect them to keep count of how many times you have told them to do or not do a certain thing? Do you say, 'How many times have I told you not to slam that door, or how many times have I told you not to hit your brother'. Do your words wear them out so that they quit listening?

I believe it is important for people to be able to take us at our word. It is especially imperative that our children know they can count on us and on the words we say. If you promise them a consequence for doing such and such, then if they do such and such, they are asking for you to do what you said you would do. Don't disappoint them. Be a man or woman of your word. Let your yes mean 'yes', and let your no mean 'no'.