Idle Living

Jesus was much concerned about idle words, idle fruit bearers and idle faith. It was the fruitless tree he cursed; it was the grapeless vine that was burned, and the saltless salt that was thrown away to be tramped by men. (Idle mind, the Devil’s work-shop). Inactive Christianity is the curse of America today. Matt. 12:36, Peter 2 1:1-9

I: Idle Words.
1. Idle is a combination of a negative prefix and the noun “work.” It means free from work, not working, inactive. An idle word is a weed in the garden of speech.
2. The danger of idle words to self.
a. A busy tongue must find something to say. “In the multitude of words, there wanteth not a sin.” Prov. 10:19
“A fools voice is known by multitude of words.” Eccl. 5:3
“He that hath knowledge spareth his words.” Prov. 17:27
3. Speech is a gift of God.
a. Thomas Edison and the talking machine.
b. The privilege of speech carries responsibility.
c. The tongue reveals one nature, Peter. Gileadities slew the Ephraimites.
d. “You can judge the wheels that are in a mans head by the spokes that come out of his mouth.”
4. The danger to others.
a. A 2 inch tongue can kill a 6 ft. man.
b. It can break up homes and ruin lives.
c. It can start war and bring Kings to poverty.
d. It can put people in the grave.
5. In danger of God’s judgment.
a. The recording machine of God.
b. The Play Back will condemn. (Not everyone that sayeth Lord, Lord). Only 1 way to erase.

II: Idle Faith. James 2:20
1. “What doth it profit my brethren, tho a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? vs. 14, and idle faith can never save one’s soul.”
2. “Faith if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” vs. 17 “Idle faith will never clothe and feed the needy.”
3. “Show me thy faith without thy words…” James says it is impossible. Devils believe in God but they do not have faith in God.
4. “Faith without works is dead.” Idle faith never gets down to service in the Kingdom’s work.

III: Idle Fruit Bearers. Peter 1:8
1. “And he shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of waters.”
2. “But others fell into good ground and brought forth fruit.” Matt. 13:8
3. Salt that has lost its saltiness.
4. “He looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes.” Isa. 5:2 “He went about doing good.” (Johnny Appleseed).

“An idle soul shall suffer hunger.” Prov. 19:15