How often do you say, “Yes, I’m gonna do it!” but not end up doing it? Or “No, I won’t do it!” but still end up doing it?
Why is that?
I doubt that you like lying, so perhaps it was because you initially intended to do what you said, but later on were unable to do so? Maybe you changed your mind? Or perhaps your feelings changed? Or you got what you wanted from the other person, and then the motivation to fulfill your word was gone? Or just the circumstances were no longer permitting?
Regardless, when we don’t fulfill what we say we will do, we really are liars. And then we try to make oaths, vows, promises to get back some of that trust we’ve lost… But even then, are we even able to keep those?
In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus brings this issue to light, highlighting on one hand our arrogance in thinking we have control over our circumstances to fulfill whatever we vow to do, yet on the other hand our nature is to avoid committing to anything as much as we can while leading others to believe otherwise (if possible).
Jesus makes it plain and clear: Let your Yes be Yes, and your No be No.
This requires us to be willing to make commitments, even to every word that we speak. And to depend on God, who is the one who is in control of all.
May we learn to look to God as to what to say, what to commit to, and what to do, rather than making promises based on our own ways.
With this we conclude and break for the summer. All the best and hope to see you in September! 😎🌞⛱
Summary by Horace