This morning, as I was talking to the Lord, He reminded me of the first thing He ever showed me in the word of God.
It is found in Psalm 15:4.
But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
Let’s look at this same scripture in a couple more translations.
And honor the faithful followers of the Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts. (NLT)
While commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost. (TPT)
This is the first lesson God taught me AND the first thing He required of me. That was over thirty years ago, and it has not changed.
What does this verse mean exactly?
It means when you say you are going to do something, you do it. When you say you will arrive at a certain time, you arrive at that time. Whatever word comes out of your mouth – you keep that word, even if it becomes inconvenient for you.
I realize things happen and there are times you simply can’t keep your word. That should be the exception, not the rule. In those times, you should call the other people involved and let them know…as soon as you know. Don’t leave them waiting and wondering.
This is another reason to be very careful of the words that come out of our mouth – God expects us to keep our word, just as He keeps His. It is our bond.
As I was meditating on this scripture, I received an email with a daily word from Marsha Burns. It’s says…
You have heard it said that your word is your bond. I say to those who have depended on someone who is unreliable, it is time to switch gears and find someone whose word you can trust. Seek My face for wisdom and direction. Psalm 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Marsha Burns
Most of us have known people like this. I have a couple family members who say they will do this or that or arrive at a certain time, yet we all know, it will never happen. To me, that is sad.
They are people who cannot be depended upon. They speak one thing out of their mouth yet their actions say otherwise.
It’s sad when we see this in the world, but it is beyond sad when it is rampant in the church, don’t you think?
Let’s reason it out.
We serve a God we have not seen, based fully on HIS WORD, written thousands of years ago…yet we fail to keep ours – while we are fully persuaded, He will keep His? Does that sound logical at all? Not to me it doesn’t.
If we are to walk in the promises of God, we must be a people who swear to our own hurt and change not. While Marsha Burns word seems hard, it is totally understandable. We must not only be a person whose word can be trusted, but we must surround ourselves with others whose word is their bond as well.
We are not of this world, we must not be like those who don’t know God. Instead, we must strive to be more and more like Jesus – someone whose word is His bond. May we become more and more like Him each and every day.
Meditate on this!
The integrity of the upright guides them. Proverbs 11:3
