The importance of keeping your word

“For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37 NIV)

Dealing with people who do not follow through on their words is very frustrating. Picture a child whose eyes keeps searching in vain for his parent who promised to come and watch him act in the school play, your friend who keeps you waiting hours after the agreed meeting time, your spouse who promises money for a family project but decides to put it to another use, a colleague who promises to finish some work by Monday and is not even through on Friday.  Keeping your word is important; your word should be your bond even when the circumstances under which you made the promises change, making its carrying out difficult, inconvenient or expensive. When you break your word or you become unpredictable, your integrity is put to question and you are no longer believable, or dependable. You wreck your relationships with your family, friends and colleagues.

As Christians we need to be faithful in likeness to our God “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians1:20, N.I.V). Let the execution of our promises also cause others to glorify God.

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“Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” Billy Graham

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