29 November 2005 Devotion for Today “What Part of No?” James 5:9-12
I heard a statement someone made not too long ago. I didn’t eavesdrop on the conversation, so I don’t know exactly what was said. All I remember was the response in utter frustration, directed toward the other, “What part of “no” don’t you understand?” I think the one making the statement was trying to get a persistent salesman off the telephone- someone who would not take “no” for an answer.
Most of us do not like to hear no. Even more people do not like to say no. No is not a popular word, and if we want to be popular, we try to do everything we can to keep from saying it. We will even say “yes” when we mean “no.” At any other time in civilization, saying “yes” when we mean “no” would have been lying- telling a deliberate falsehood to manipulate or to deceive people. But in the twenty-first century, saying yes to say no is actually considered polite, - preferable to the “N” word. It has become a fine art, and many have become masterful at being able to smile with a glazed look in their eye and tell you “yes- they will be happy to come to church on Sunday, what time should I be there?” and then you look for them and they are not there. I have had someone tell me yes they will refund the money to my account and for over a month it has not shown up. Yes means you can also back out of a commitment at the last minute when more pressing business or if a more entertaining offer comes your way. When we hear yes it means that someone is not bound to fulfill a commitment if it does not work out, and when we discover that things do not work out as we were told they would be, we are now obliged to keep silent about it and not challenge the yes-sayer lest we commit another unforgivable sin making them uncomfortable. Yes is a distrustful word. It has become a convenient way to dispose of something inconvenient without looking like a mean, nasty person. These days, being considered a liar is much more respectable, much preferred to being thought of as blunt, rude or impolite. So we now have to learn to read body language and be much more discerning to listen to the certain spin someone puts on the “yes.” Today the word “yes” really means nothing at all.
Apparently ours is not the only century that struggled with this problem. James meets this lack of sincerity and trustworthiness head on when he wrote in James 5:9-12
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”
Much of this passage has to do with patience, which I discussed yesterday. Its interesting, however, that the admonition to have patience is used in the same passage as the call for honesty in our speech and promises that we make. The ancient Essenes had a saying that went something like this, “If you have to invoke the name of God to give your statements credibility, you have already discredited yourself.” In other words, your words ought to be able to stand by themselves without having to pull God down with you.
What about commitments that we are unable to follow through on? I realize that it is an uncomfortable place to be. We have all been there, and it is embarrassing to be at the root of disappointment. But it is better to say “no” than “yes” and not mean it or have any intention of doing it at the moment someone asks us. Its best to be honest- even at the risk of being seen as impolite or boorish, than to say sweet nothings. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.
Have a blessed day!
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