Proverbs 6:2-3. 2if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3then do this, my son, and save yourself…
“I swear it will never happen again.”
“I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’ll pay you back later, I promise.”
Do you talk this way? Do you make promises lightly without really thinking about what you are saying? Solomon calls this being snared in the words of your mouth. Our own words trapping us and revealing our character when we fail to do the things we said we would do.
Jesus taught us the same principle this way, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” That means that you shouldn’t say yes to something unless you are really going to do it. And if you do say yes to something then you should make sure you get it done just like you said. For the Christian there should be no reason to have to say “I promise,” or “I swear.” Why? Because our yes is yes. Our no is no. We have integrity. If we say it, it is true. Period.
Of course none of us fully keeps our commitments do we. Our “yes” often becomes a “next time,” or an “Oops, I forgot about that.” Our “no” is also easily forgotten (or hidden). Our many “It won’t happen again’s,” or “I’ll do better, I promise’s,” actually just stir up the flesh in us. Either we buckle down in all our self-righteous effort to keep all of our commitments, or, the pressure to live up to our many promises overwhelms us and we give up on our commitments altogether.
Do either of these describe you?
Jesus is the only person who has kept all of his commitments and promises. Christ was never snared by the words of his mouth. In fact, he IS God’s promise to us. The Apostle Paul tells us that every promise of God finds it YES in Christ (2 Cor.1:20). Jesus is God’s living, dying, and living again commitment to us. Eternal love? YES, in Christ. Eternal life? YES, in Christ. Sins forgiven? YES, in Christ.
With God there is no, “Oops I forgot.” No, “I’ll make sure it happens soon.” No, “I promise I won’t make that mistake again.” Just yes.
And knowing that the great YES of God lives in us, we too can live in this same integrity. Our yes can be yes and our no can be no because we live within the selflessness producing reality of eternal life with God. A reality that understands that we are both failure and faithful. So no more promises. Rather, by the grace of God commit to being a person of integrity while also humbly admitting your limits.
You: Do you tend to make promises and commitments that you don’t actually keep?
You in Christ: How does knowing that all God’s promises to us have been fulfilled in you by the Spirit allow you to live a life of faithfulness and integrity with others?
Christ in you: Are there any commitments that you’ve made that you have failed to keep? How can Christ in you stir you to be a person of integrity and fulfill that commitment?
Pray: Father, your yes to me is always true. Thank you for doing everything for me just as you said. Thank you for fulfilling every promise in Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 