Keep Your Word

Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)  “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Jesus put a lot of emphasis on the importance of us being people of our word and keeping the promises that we make to people, ourselves and to God.

Many times in life we make what I will call “little commitments.” Like ones we will make to ourselves. Like:

“I’m going to start exercising more because I am not healthy, or I am going to start spending more time in prayer because I need to strengthen my faith, or I am going to start spending more time with my family so I can leave a better legacy, and many things like that.

The reason I called them “little commitments” is because there are easily not kept, because no body knows about them but us.

Or we will make larger commitments to each other like:

“I’ll pay you back the money you are lending me,, or I’ll be at your game to support you, or I will help serve in your ministry, or I will be praying for you.” And on and on our commitments go.

We are all guilty of falling through with our promises but that doesn’t make it okay.

God really wants us to be people of our word. It’s is so important to Him, that His word says this:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (NLT) When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.

That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t want us to make commitments. God loves when we make commitments and enter into covenants. Our entire existence is based around God’s desire for us to be in covenant with Him.

But He is so adamant that we follow through and be true to our commitments.

Vince Lombardi said this: “ The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

Maybe you find your self at the beginning of this year, having commitments you have made, not yet fulfilled.

Finish strong this year and do what you said you would do! There is still time!

Be some body who keeps your word!

THE SECRET TO LIFE

I had the opportunity to spend some time with my Grandma on Tuesday afternoon.  She is my hero and I treasure the time we get to spend together.  When we get together, we usually sit down and talk about life and God and all that we see Him doing.  During our discussion my Grandma, who is filled with wisdom that I am constantly trying to glean from, said, “the secret of life is self discipline.”  What profound words – so simple yet so deep.

We are at a time of the year when everyone is making new goals and resolutions.  This is a busy time for gyms, for counseling centers, and for churches because everyone is trying to set their priorities and make themselves better.  But why is there a spike of this activity at the beginning of the year and then a drastic decline as the year progresses?  I believe it is because of the “secret of life” that my Grandma shared.  Two simple words that dictate the whole route of our lives – self discipline.

Many of the greats of the Bible were ordinary people like us, yet they exercised great self-discipline when it came to carrying out what God had asked them to carry out.  For example, Noah didn’t quit when the going got tough.  He didn’t stop building the ark when people made fun of him.  He didn’t stop working even though he was sore and tired.  He didn’t let discouragement stop him from getting all of the animals, all of the food, and all of his family on the ark.  He didn’t stop – He had the self -discipline to not only start something but to finish it as well.  He displayed his faith through the discipline of daily getting up and doing what was within his power to do to follow the assignment God had given Him.  And God honored Noah.  Actually, because Noah’s self discipline in obedience – you and I are on this earth today.  What he did affected generations to come.  (Check out the story of Noah in Genesis 6).

So it is with your self-discipline.  What has God called you to do?  Are you doing it?  If you are not, there is no greater time than now to start.  Are you feeling the pressure and strain of the assignment?  Have the self-discipline to keep going knowing that we serve a God who is faithful.  He didn’t give you your assignment just to let you die in an effort to accomplish.  He is a God of completion and He will get you there.  You just have to do your part and not give up.

The secret of life is self-discipline.  Don’t give up when things get hard or when you get tired.  Stay in your Word, keep a heart of worship, love your enemies, be in prayer.  It’s hard work but the rewards will blow your mind.  Have the discipline to finish what God has called you to.  You can do it through His strength. If you have the self-discipline to do what God has called you to, you will see the faithfulness of God move in ways you could have only dreamed.  I know that to be true, not only because I have seen it in my own life, but also because my Grandma said so!!! 🙂

Me and my Grandma 🙂

Pastor Shelly Riker