Paul knew how easy it would be for someone to convince the Ephesians to sin. That was why he told them to be careful of the words spoken to them. This devotion looks at the use of the term empty words and God’s response to that disobedience.
Nuggets
- Words can either encourage us to remain faithful to God or they can lead them astray.
- God does not like sins, particularly fornication, impurity, and covetousness.
Paul had already told his Ephesian readers that they should use their words to build up their brothers and sisters in Christ. However, he knew that others would use their words to deceive the Ephesian disciples. He wanted to warn them of the possible outcome.
Let's Put It into Context
“Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph. 5: 5 RSV)
Paul had just listed for the Ephesians some sins that they should avoid. He followed that up by explaining the reason for avoiding them — those who did would not enter “… the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph. 5: 5 RSV).
I just noticed something. It is interesting that, of the list, Paul only mentioned half of the sins as keeping people out of the kingdom. Hmmm. Interesting, indeed.
Paul didn’t focus on our words. He focused more on the sins that dealt with character.
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Empty Words
“Let no one deceive you with empty words …” (Eph. 5: 6 RSV)
But Paul isn’t done yet with words. This time, he is talking about someone else’s words — words that influence us.
The phrase empty words is used several times in the Bible. Second Peter 2: 18 says, “For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error” (ESV). The empty words draw undue attention to us.
Paul warned Timothy about the same thing. “There are some who have given up these for nothing but empty talk” (I Tim. 1: 6 CEV). He knew Satan uses this tactic often in tempting disciples to get off track.
Empty words is referring to words that are not true and take our focus off of God. They do not build us up in our walk as a disciple.
We can’t discount the effect words have. They can either encourage us to remain faithful to God or they can lead them astray.
It might help us, also, to put this into context. We have to remember that one thing Paul spoke out against frequently was false teachers.
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Those false teachers more than likely were trying to get the new disciples to return to some of their ways before conversion. Paul wanted the Ephesians to know they were just saying empty words.
The Wrath of God
“… for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5: 6 RSV)
Ooo. Payback time.
But don’t we sometimes think that payback isn’t going to come until heaven? We think God is just going to let it ride for right now.
Well, maybe God will. Maybe He won’t. Either way, God does not like sins, particularly fornication, impurity, and covetousness.
Maybe this is why Paul stopped talking about filthiness, silly talk, and levity (Eph. 5: 4). Maybe they don’t rate as severe a punishment as the others.
Let’s talk a minute about why it might be thought that God will not punish these sins. The big reason is either there is no God, or these are not sinning. Both thoughts would be wrong.
If some think there is a God, they may be thinking that He isn’t powerful enough or that He doesn’t have a say. Excuse me? This is the God who created heaven and earth — who created us. If He was powerful enough to do the creating, He is powerful enough to be doing. He has every right to a have a say.
We’ve talked before about God being a loving and vengeful Father. We’ve also talked about God’s wrath and mercy. Some think He can’t be both, so He will fall on the side of loving.
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Do people really think that God is going to change His mind after all these years? Say He has re-evaluated, and Satan has it right all along? Not. Going. To. Happen. Period.
Or they think God is just going to accept lip service? God is interested in our true worship.
Some think that just making the profession is enough. They think no other changes need to be made.
Well, we do have to repent. Repentance is expressing sorrow for things we’ve done wrong.
But it is not just feeling sorry for doing those things. It is making the commitment to changing ourselves so that we no longer do the wrong things. We have to change so that we are putting God as the priority and doing what pleases Him.
There is a God. One day, Jesus is going to return, and there will be a judgment day for the sins of people (Rev. 20: 11-13). God will be an impartial judge. We’ve got to be prepared because we do not know when that day is coming.
Making the Connections
Satan tries to shade the line between God’s laws and commandments and where he can tip us into sin. Was Paul guilty by association in the stoning of Stephen? He just held the coats (Ac. 7: 54-60). In fact, he only got an off-hand mention: “… Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Ac. 7: 58 NIV).
It didn’t take long. “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Ac. 8: 3 NIV). Three verses in between.
But it escalated from there. “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Ac. 9: 1-2 NIV).
Satan wants us around sin, being desensitized to it. That way he can continue our side away from God — and taking others with us.
Can anyone say dominoes?
How Do We Apply This?
We have to weigh the words of others carefully. “Children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous” (I Jn. 3: 7 CSB). We do not want to believe empty words.
How do we weigh these words? We have to examine them against what we know. Would we be breaking a law or commandment? Are they contradicting something written in the Bible? Is this building our character as a disciple or destroying it? If Jesus came right now, would we want Him to catch us like this?
We have to be careful as we live our lives. Satan wants nothing more than to turn us from God. We have to prayerfully ask God to strengthen us to withstand the temptations.
Loving Father. You are a loving God. That does not mean You do not set boundaries for us. You do so in order for us to grow. Forgive us when we step outside of those boundaries. Forgive us when we willfully sin and when we inadvertently sin. Help us to choose who we associate with so that we may encourage each other to live as You would have us to live. Help us to witness while not being pulled into their sinful world. Bring us to You heavenly home so that we may live with You forever. Amen.
What do you think?
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