“Talk is cheap.”

Have you ever heard someone use that expression? It’s the cousin to “Actions speak louder than words.”

I get where it comes from. Quite often, we only know if someone means what they say if they back it up with their actions.

But WHY?

WHY do so many people think talk is cheap?

I think it’s because many of us use, misuse and abuse words.

In Matthew 5:37 Jesus is speaking to his disciples about taking oaths. He says, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Although he was addressing a different situation 2000 years ago, he reminds us that the words we use should be honest and plain.

-How often do we say we’re going to do something, but don’t follow through?
-How often do we insist something is true, even though we’re not really sure?
-How often do we use flattery or eloquent words just to manipulate someone to agree with us?

So why not use sincerity and straightforwardness as your verbal guides? 

To a lot of people, talk is cheap. But it doesn’t have to be.

Your talk can be rich—full of value and integrity—revealing a heart that is true to the One who is true to you.

Today, use sincerity and straightforwardness as your verbal guides.

By Matthew Ruttan