People of Our Word!

What I have noticed of late there seems to be a rash of people in the Body who are not people of our word. We say we are going to do something and we don’t. Some of us will at least apologize or make excesses as to why we didn’t come through or are late, but then there are times we act as if we never gave our word and “So what!”

When I was growing up I often heard the saying, “A man (or woman) is known by their word.” Or “A man’s word is his bond.” It was very important to be known as someone who did what they said they would. It was sort of black and white back then, either you told the truth and were dependable or a liar and not trusted.

One of the biggest and most consistent lies I believe that is told inside the church building is, “I’ll be pray for you!” Those five words just roll off the tongue like butter, but often they are not true. Now when we make this statement do we plan to do it? I think in most cases we do, but we just too often don’t. I feel that if we stop telling people we are going to pray for them and just stick to I Timothy 1:1-3, we will be okay.

James instructs us to always make “If God wills….I will” the “precursor” to any plans we make regarding the future. I think because we often omit “If God wills” we set ourselves up to fail. Anything can happen or arise in the time you have told someone you would do something. Prime example, on Friday, October 29th, a girlfriend of mine plans to drive me, Tovah and my granddaughter to Baltimore, MD, for an open house at Loyola University. We have both agreed, “If God wills, it will happen.” Why? Because between now and then anything can come up that would prevent her from driving us. Would she be a person who did keep her word? Nope! Since we agreed that if God wills this trip will happen, then if it doesn’t no one is going to be bent out of shape. See, how He takes care of us! If only we would follow what He says. ~Smile~

Why is it important to be people of our word? Because we are imitators of Christ and He was a person of His word on this earth. We are instructed to walk in love with one another, so to say we are going to do something and don’t just because we changed our mind or didn’t feel like it, is not walking in love or being honest. Also when we don’t keep our word, people are disappointed and often have some kind of feelings about us. Their perception can range from “You are a liar. You lied to them and you lied to God! Or, grace and mercy can step in!” But too often our flesh takes us in the opposite direction of grace and mercy. ~Smile~

Personally at times it is a struggle for me to not want to hold people accountable when they don’t come through, but as I’m growing in the Lord I’ve learned to give grace to the offender. But there are times we need to hold someone accountable, especially when we see a pattern of this behavior. In other words, we need to pull their coattail—But in love of course. Not when we find ourselves angry or upset because they did it again. As parents we need to make sure our children understand how important it is to “think before they agree to do something, and to keep their word as best they can, once they have given it.” Hold them accountable.

I have a question for you my sisters, how are you known for your word? Are you dependable to the point that people know when you say you will do something as long as it is within your power they can count on you? Or are you the last person people come to when they are really in need because you are just not dependable? Do you tell people you will be somewhere at such-a-such time, but you leave them hanging because you are always late? Are you a woman of many excuses because you are forever not keeping your promises? How often do you disappoint your children because you say you are going to do something and then you don’t?

Not being people of our word, is a very poor testimony as to how we are living to please God.

If any of this has hit home with you, I hope you will begin to not be so fast to say you will do something without counting the cost, and when you do say you are going to do something then strive to keep your word.

My grandmother had an old saying about folks who didn’t keep their word. “Her word is like a pie curst—easily broken”

All of God’s daughter’s should be known as “People of their word!” Can that be said about you?



Love & Hugs
Ponnie

Wednesday's Blog: Ponnie "Single and Loving It!"