Does Your Word Mean Something?

(Lessons from The Little Maid)

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

2Kings 5:4-5

When you say something, do people take you seriously?

Does your word mean something?

The little maid's word meant something to Naaman and his wife. Why?
If she was a lazy, unreliable and dishonest worker, would her word have meant anything? If she had lived in a way that brought dishonor to God, would her words about God have meant something? If she had lived as though God wasn't real, would they have believed that her God could heal Naaman?
She must have had a good reputation. She must have lived a life that backed up her words.
Two people may say the same thing, and yet you believe only one of them. How they act or live may disagree with what they say.
My husband and I met someone who was always full of big ideas and promises of things that he would do. After awhile I realized that it was only words. What he said he would do, he never did. So then when he would come out with a new idea, I would just think, “Yeah, whatever!” His word meant nothing to me because I knew his word was only words.
What about you? If you had been the little maid, would they have listened to you? Or would they have thought, “Yeah, whatever.” “She can't really mean that.”
People have to choose whether or not to believe you, but you should live in a way that gives them no good reason not to.
If you tell people about God, do they have reason to take you seriously? Has He made a difference to your life? Has he made you a better person? Is there any reason they should want what you have?
When you make a promise, do people believe you? Do you keep your promises? Are you reliable?
When you say, "I love you", do people have reason to believe you? Do you show love by your actions?
Do your words mean something?