Words

I have heard it said that you are only as good as your word.  Your word is very important not only for integrity for yourself but also for others that are counting on you.  As a believer we should use our words wisely and let our yes, be yes, and our no, be no.

It says this about vows in Matthew 5:33-37, “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

They had problems with people in Jesus’ day also using sacred language casually and not keeping their word.  In our day it seems like lying and breaking promises is an accepted thing, you hear about it all the time.  If you watch movies or TV programs, people are notorious for breaking promises and not keeping their word.  Many politicians live this kind of lifestyle, it seems that many are not trusted.  If the president and those in our government can’t be trusted to keep their promises, who can we depend on?  

If you are a believer, there is One that we can depend on and that person is the Lord Jesus who never lies but can always be counted on to keep His word. James also taught about keeping your word and not breaking vows in James 5:12, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.”

Marriage vows are another place where lies take place and vows are broken far too often for many different reasons and this should not be.  You expect these things to happen in the world, among the ungodly, but not among believers.  From the beginning God intended marriage vows to be kept and not broken, but today there are probably more divorces in the church than in the world among non-believers.  Jesus taught on this subject in Matthew 5:31-32 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”

Here Jesus taught that divorce was only permissible when sexual immorality was involved, not for any selfish reasons.  It also doesn’t mean that if adultery occurs you should never seek to reconcile and forgive the offence and restore the relationship.  Believers should seek out godly counsel and pray and ask the Lord for help in the situation, not just throw in the towel, so to speak, and give up.  If believers stood by their wedding vows and were determined to honor God in their commitment to each other, there would be far less broken marriages among believers.

Remember God’s Word says that God hates divorce, or putting away, in Malachi 2:16, ‘“For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.’”

Believers need to have the same commitment to their marriage as God has to His promises with His people.  My belief is, if you are married as a believer and are both committed to the Lord and the Word, you will have a good marriage.  As far as I am concerned, it takes three to have a good marriage, the couple and the Lord, plus the couple keeping their vows to one another and to the Lord.  

It would be nice if the Lord would be able to speak the words that He spoke of Nathanael in John 1:47 to every believer, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’”  Jesus knew Nathanael in and out and He knew he was an honest person.  What about you?  Jesus also knows you the same way; can Jesus say these same words about you?  I hope He can.  Something to think about!  God bless and have a super day!!