Matthew 21:28-32 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Two Sons!
This is Jesus speaking!
Verse 28: What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
Verse 29: ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Verse 30: "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Verse 31: "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
Verse 32: For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
From this parable we learn about how important it is to back our words with the right actions. Even if it were not for this parable, how many of us will believe a person who says something, but then turns around and does something exactly opposite to what he says. I come across people all the time who are very sweet to my face, say a lot of wonderful things, but then their actions never really measure up to what they have been saying all along. It’s like their talk talks and their walk talks, but their walk talks the real thing compared to their talk which ends up being a whole lot of empty words. It is from such experiences that I have learned to evaluate a person by their actions and not by their words. Like they say “talk is cheap” and indeed I have found this to be very true since people can say just about anything and yet not really mean it, or prove it, or back it up with corresponding actions.
For me personally, a person better mean what he is saying and do exactly what he is saying, for if not then it means I am not going to believe anything he says the next time. Sounds simple right? I have however learnt the hard way that it’s better to judge people by their actions and not by their words.
Even Jesus emphasized words being followed by quality action in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus was in effect telling His disciples don’t say you love me, keep my commandments to really show me that you love me.
I hope with all sincerity henceforth we shall all pay attention to our actions that they really demonstrate what we are saying with our mouths.
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