Keeping Your Word – March 22, 2015

Matthew 5: 33-37       “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.

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

Hosea 10:4     They speak mere words, With worthless oaths they make covenants; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV     And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

You ever tell someone that you’re going to do something and regret it the moment it comes out of your mouth because you know that you have no intentions on doing it?

Keeping promises establishes our “True Inner Self.”   It shows whether or not we have unprincipled or incorruptible morals (fruitful seed) inside of us.   Integrity, Honor, Self-respect and Honesty means everything to man and to the Lord!  What kind of faith walk does the Lord desire us to have?  Is keeping one's word really important?  Does the world respect people who break their promises? (wow! Think about that, let it sink in….the world knows the value of a promise)  A broken promise means a broken trust and relationship.  Trust and respect as well as one's honor is the foundation of our relationship with the Lord.   He expects us to keep our word, (vow, oath) to others as well! 

 God doesn't accept  the altering promises! 
    Lev 27:9-10 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.  He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good 

   When you give your word to someone you are also giving it unto the Lord. 

The importance of keeping one's word is a matter of Integrity! 

    Psalms 25:20-21 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.  Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. 

    Integrity and righteousness are the two most important things for a Christian to have.   Uprightness and Integrity demonstrate what we believe, and how consistent of a walk we have with Jesus.