What does it mean to you when you hear the phrase, “I give you my word”? Does it provide comfort or does it make you question? In today’s society, words seem to be a dime a dozen. Someone will give you their word until it is no longer convenient for them or comfortable and then they will make adjustments. Giving your word to another should stand for something. It should remain true even when it isn’t easy….even if it causes them some discomfort.
While people may be fickle with their promises or commitments, God is always true to His Word. If you read it from Genesis to Revelation, you can count on it. He does not lie and He does not make shallow promises. Psalm 33:4 says, “For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.” If God says it, you can take it to the bank. It will happen as He says. He will do what He promises.
We are to model our lives after the Lord- follow in the His footsteps. Sometimes your word is all you have to offer another. It should stand for something. Growing up, my father used to say, “You are only as good as your word.” My heavenly Father obviously agreed with him. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the people in Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” We read the same message repeated in James 5:12, “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned.” If the Lord placed this command in His Word twice, He expected us to pay attention to it. In both verses, we are commanded to stand behind what we say.
Choose your words wisely. When you speak them, they should mean something.