Where Talk Isn't Cheap

"Two hundred," a man said at our table as he announced a raise the other night.  Then he set out 250 chips.

With the blinds at 25/50, he admittedly meant to go 200 above the Big Blind.  But by saying 200 and nothing more, some players thought the total bet was "200 straight" (to borrow some poker slang).

"Verbal overrides the physical," a man next to us said.  That is, a player's words are final -- even if he pushes forward a lot more chips than he says.

The "verbal" explanation struck us as interesting.  "Your words matter more than your actions," we pondered out loud to the man at our left.  "Very few things in life work that way."

"Poker is an exception," he agreed.  An exception to an old phrase: "Actions speak louder than words."  Which approach does Jesus accept?

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? - Luke 6:46

The Watergate scandal of U.S. politics brought us the phrase, "Don't watch what we say; watch what we do."  God wants our doing to match our saying.  Otherwise, look at the example you're following....

You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that -- and shudder. - James 2:19

James goes on to write a believer's faith should be accompanied by good deeds (or "works" in the King James).  So does that mean the words we say never matter?  No - Jesus would disagree with that as well.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. - Matthew 12:36-37

In poker, your "walk" has to match your "talk."  May your life do the same thing -- and move carefully in both areas of your life.