Keep Your Word
It is much easier to fit in with the world around us than it is to stand out and live differently as Jesus called us to do. But as true disciples of Christ we know that our lives will be more blessed when we follow His instructions. The lifestyle that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount is the complete opposite of what is accepted and expected in the world we live in.
Jesus began His message by saying, “You have heard it said”….. and then added, “But I say.” He made it very clear that His ways are not the world’s ways and His instructions for His followers will be radically different from world views, which will make us stand out as beacons of hope and light to others.
And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. Matthew 5:33-37
Have you ever experienced someone saying something they didn’t mean whether it was to trick you into doing something, stroking your ego or just saying things to be saying things? Have you ever done the same thing? Today’s passage calls that manipulating words to get your own way.
Throughout my life, I have heard many promises given with the mindset that they would motivate me to work harder and do more, but in the end, there was always a reason they never came through. I started to think to myself, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” which creates a very negative view of people.
Knowing how those empty words made me feel has helped me to take a closer look at the words I say, not wanting anyone to feel that my word is not something they can count on. How many times have you told someone or text someone, “praying,” after reading their request? Did you actually pray?
Perhaps a better and more challenging response would be to write, “prayed.” Meaning you prayed before you responded. That is what Jesus meant when he said to let your yes be yes and your no be no. It keeps us accountable to our word and creates the godly character of truthfulness in us.
Counting on God’s faithfulness is what gives us hope for the life we live now and the life we will experience with Him in the future. Isn’t it wonderful to know that if Jesus said it, He’ll do it.