We go to great legal lengths to hold individuals and corporations to their word, with airtight contracts that detail all the terms of agreement. And when a breach of contract happens, it’s recognized as a serious offense. Today’s reading reminds us of the importance of making good on our word.
Be careful to do whatever comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed what you promised to the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 23:23).
In the time of the Old Testament, vow-keeping involved promising God an offering or action in response to His help or provision concerning a particular matter. In the New Testament, Jesus references these instructions, asserting that our “yes” should be “yes” and our “no” should mean “no” (Matthew 5:37). We are to be people of our word, a people who live truthfully—in front of God and among our neighbors.
When we commit to something, we do it with the intention of following through. Our words are an expression of our character, and we honor God when they are honest and authentic. Keeping our word is also a show of respect and care to those to whom we gave our word. How disappointing empty promises are. I’ll be there…I’ll pay you back next week… Yes, I’ll do that. Commitment without the intention to follow through is not only disappointing to others, but it also dishonors God.
Sometimes we say yes in the moment, or we overcommit. These days, it’s easy to over promise our time and even money without realizing that we’ve done it. Sometimes, we’ve tried our best to keep our word, but we just can’t. These things happen; but they should be exceptions. God’s instructions in Deuteronomy and Matthew remind us of the way in which we should live our lives.
They also challenge us to be honest with ourselves and identify opportunities for growth related to honoring our commitments. Perhaps, we do overcommit far too often. Or perhaps, lately, it’s just seemed hard to follow through on even the smaller things. These could be signals, pointing to a need to reduce busyness or to reevaluate our time management priorities.
There’s a sweet grace in Jesus’s “yes” and “no” instructions. We don’t have to say yes to everything. We get to say no sometimes, even often! Living truthfully brings balance to our lives, allowing us to be good stewards with the time and resources the Lord has entrusted to us.
Let’s continue to honor God with truthfulness in our words and actions. And let’s ask Him to continue to help us to live honestly among others.
MARI V and K SWENSON, praying after your comments yesterday.
I’m also praying for all my sisters where yesterday’s readings were not just hard to read with our 21st century eyes but, cut very close to the bone — I pray it was healing more than hurting.
(I actually found parts of today’s OT Scripture even more jarring than yesterday’s.)
TERRI – Yes, death certainly releases one from their wedding vows! God bless you.
ARINA – How convicting; thank you!
ANGIE – Your story put me in your classroom, and made me smile!! Thank God for beautiful teachers who create an environment that brings this out on children! :)
MAURA and RUTH LONG – I pride myself on always “keeping my promise” and commitment but, I have struggled with guilt saying “No” for many years…not a good combination! I love the approach of “Let me pray and get back to you”…For now, I mostly say “I’ll need to talk to my husband to figure out our schedule.” :D
When I commit to something, I do it. And if I have overcommitted and have felt overwhelmed, I admit it and let the other person/s know right away.
Hi TERRI! I take comfort from knowing that these laws push us closer to the heart of God but 1) do not bind us because of Christ’s grace and 2) were created only to help us be more loving, considerate, and careful with our power. God is trying to protect women and divorcees from our “hardness” of heart, making sure that we don’t leave women in the lurch or just start swappin’ partners. God made these rules for our benefit but they are not God! I always try and ask myself whether a rule I’m holding drives me or the person I’m interacting with closer to the heart of God (LOVE TENDERNESS CONSIDERATION) and if they answer is no, it is not from the heart of God. A blessing on you and your husband!
ERB, God is Good! Mission accomplished. Joy to this day. Angie, I wish you would consider writing a book, so love your stories of blessing. Praying for my older granddaughters as they start a new school today that they have a teacher who sees them, watches over them, and loves them in Christ. Realize I am praying for your heart in their new teachers and for friends that will lead them, or they will lead closer to Jesus. Pray with me.
Ruth Long, let me encourage you, from one who use to be overwhelmed with saying Yes. I learned how to say let me pray about it and get back to you. Then I could seek God and it gave me time to check if my heart could really be a blessing in it, and I learned No was the best answer if it wasn’t. Jen, my older and wiser sister helped me when my kids were a little older than your little one, she said don’t ask if they did something, if you know beyond a doubt they did it. Ask dear one why did you choose this? Or, I am so sad you chose to do this and open the conversation up with the knowledge of it happened. Not for your little, but it did help with that initial lie of I didn’t do it. Not sure this helps you, praying you feel God’s whisper of wisdom as you raise your sweet little Love. Sisters, So much in His word. Indeed Arina, loved your words, and it strikes me that it is when He lives in our hearts that they become holy and only by His grace that they can be and remain so. Praise Jesus, our call to be holy is a call into His arms. He gives us the strength to stay there, and if we leave keeps calling us back. Hugs to your day wrapped in the light and joy of the King.
Hope this posts, having trouble with the app!
PENNY W- thanks for posting the commentary. I had wondered what it meant to not be allowed into the Assembly of God. It makes a lot more sense now.
Thank you for your insights and encouragement this morning ladies! I didn’t remember what happened to Miriam in the scripture that was referred to today. I looked it up and found that Miriam was afflicted with leprocy after criticizing Moses regarding a marital matter with his wife. The commentary said she received the harsh punishment for the same reason Moses’ punishment was harsh. They were essentially held to the highest standard because of who they were. This is just one commentaries thoughts, anyone have any other viewpoints?