I have been serving the Lord for many years now. However, I can still remember the first lesson He ever taught me and not only taught me but required of me. This one scripture became so ingrained in me that I can’t get away from it.
So much so, that I ingrained it in my daughter, Bre. She is exactly the same way as I am concerning this truth from God’s word.
But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (Ps 15:4)
Swear to your own hurt and CHANGE not. One translation says it like this; keep your promise, even when it hurts.
If I or Bre make a promise or give our word – we will do it. Even if it becomes inconvenient. Even if we no longer want to do it. Even if something comes up that we would rather do. We keep our word.
Now, I realize things happen that cannot be helped and sometimes you can’t keep your word – but that should be the exception, not the rule. At times like those, we call the people right away and let them know what is going on – or what the hinderance is and we work it out.
However, I don’t see this a lot these days, not even in the Body of Christ. People throw their ‘word’ around lightly with no intention of keeping it. My friends, this should not be so.
If you break your word to me once, or lie to me once, I can deal with that and still trust you. Things happen; I get that. However, if you break your word to me over and over – I no longer believe anything you say. That’s just how it is for me.
Let’s look at what the Bible says about this.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. (Prov 12:22)
He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. (Ps 101:7)
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (Jn 8:44)
So, we see from God’s word that lying is an abomination to the Lord. Also, that we cannot continue to dwell in His presence, unless we are a person of truth. Finally, when we tell lies, we align with the devil.
Now, with all that being said, I do not believe anyone reading this means to lie or be a liar. If that were your heart, you wouldn’t even be reading this. Of that, I am certain.
Still, we must remember, part of being a person of truth goes back to our previous scripture. We must swear to our own hurt and change not. In other words, we must be a person who keeps our word – at least if it is at all possible.
If you tell someone you are going to pray for them – pray for them. If you tell someone you will meet them at noon – be there at five minutes before noon. If you tell your children you will do something for them, do it. It’s that simple. And if something comes up that you can’t keep your word, talk to the people involved and make it right. If you don’t, you will become a person they have no faith in and we don’t want that, do we?
My greatest joy is time in the tangible manifest presence of God. I would never want to do anything that would keep me from His presence, how about you?
