How Good is Your Word?

Read

Numbers 30:1-31:54

Think

Numbers 30:1-2, “Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord commands: When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.’”In sitcoms and movies, people often find themselves in tricky situations. Instead of telling the truth and resolving the issue, they often build a web of lies and deception. In a way, it’s almost a game — will they get away with it? Or, at the very least, it’s made humorous — as if the lie is really no big deal.As believers, however, we’re called to a much higher standard. James, in the New Testament, puts it plainly — let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no. In fact, swearing to do anything is generally discouraged because “yes” should be enough!How good is your word? Is it enough to say, “Yes, I will do this,” and the person in front of you can trust that to be true? Or do you have to emphasize and make additional promises to assure the person that you’ll truly do what you have said?Real-life drama can’t always be resolved as quickly as TV shows and movies. Don’t take vows and promises lightly. When you make them, be sure to keep your word and follow through!

Act

Pray

Father, Help me to be a person of my word. Before I promise something, let me consider what is required, and prompt me to follow through with my commitments. Amen.