In times past, all that was necessary to complete a contract was a handshake. The reputation people had in keeping their word directly related to their dependability. It was taken for granted that if you could not follow through on what you promise, how could anyone ever depend on you? By learning to keep our word and being careful of what we promise, we can build respect for our dependability.
Keeping your word is a black and white issue. You either make happen what you said is going to happen, or you do not. If you said you are going to produce some result by a certain time and you do not, no amount of reasons, excuses, justifications or apologies can alter that fact. Reasons are one thing. Results are something completely different. Many times, we give our word or commit ourselves to things in too hasty a manner. Usually, a little time or a change in circumstances reveals the full truth of the situation. In these situations, it may cost us time, money and effort to stick to our promises, but that is necessary. If we fail to keep our word when things get tough, our dependability will suffer. However, by giving ourselves time to seek godly counsel and by thinking through a scenario before we commit, we can avoid many of the promises that overextend our capabilities.
Years ago, it was more common than it is nowadays to hear these expressions: “He is a man of his word,” “He can be trusted,” “He is very dependable,” and “His word is his bond.” These sentences refer to someone who can be counted on to keep his word, someone who is reliable and dependable, someone who is trustworthy and faithful. We find that not everyone abides by these principles. We learn, rather painfully, that not everyone is honest, trustworthy, reliable or dependable. Other phrases, such as “buyer beware,” and “promises are made to be broken,” have in many instances replaced the old standards. As a result, we soon learn to be wary and selective about whom to trust and whom to depend on. Each of us has had to make choices at some point in our lives when dealing with whom we can trust and who may or may not be dependable. Fortunately, as Christians, we do not have to make such choices when dealing with God. We can know for sure that God is dependable and is the only One we can have complete faith in. We can be sure that His word is His bond, and we can depend on it.
MEMORY VERSE:
“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.” Proverbs 25:19