KEEP YOUR WORD!

KEEP YOUR WORD!

If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. —Numbers 30:2

It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. —Ecclesiastes 5:5

            How good is your word?  When you say you are going to do something, do you?  Whether it is to our Lord or to another person or people that we promise we are going to do something, do we carry it out?  If we are not going to do something, then we should not say that we are.  Surely, “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”  That turns out to be a lie and it truly questions our trustworthiness.  Can you be trusted?

            When entering military service, this is the vow or oath that is taken—

“I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/swearing-in-for-military-service.html#The%20Oath%20of%20Office%20(For%20Officers)

            That vow, oath, promise is only as good as a person’s word and a person’s word comes out of their character.  Anybody can just say words.  It used to be, years ago, that people could come to an agreement with a handshake.  I actually remember this being done.  A handshake sealed the deal of what one promised to another would be done.  That still happens to some degree today, but in our day legal documents are signed to ensure what was agreed upon would be done.  Those who do not carry out their “vow, oath, promise” are seen as deceptive and untrustworthy.  When a person does this repeatedly, then they are known for their bad “dealings.”

                But what about us?  What have we said to our Lord that we may not be carrying out?  Is there something?  Have we said something to an individual that we are not living up to?  Was there a group of people that we made a “vow, oath, promise” to that we are not being faithful in?  Why make promises that we do not keep?  Let us reflect on this and if there is something that we have promised, let us carry it through.  Otherwise, this is truly saying something about our character.  Are you trustworthy?  Better in the future to really think things through than to promise something and then not do it.

Dear Father, may I be more like Jesus who always does what He says.  Yes, please help me to be faithful to my promises to You and to people.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus, my Lord.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJgyQGl33kw