The following conversation, or something like it takes place in homes around the world.
“Dad, will you get it for me?”
“Yes, I will get it.”
“Oh will you, Daddy?”
“Yes, I will, I just said I would.”
“Ahhhh do you promise, Daddy”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Ohhhh do you are you really going to do it?”
“Yes, on my life I will do it. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye, I’m going to do it.”
“Ohhhhhh thank you, Daddy.”
In the beginning, God didn’t have to repeat Himself when He created the world. He didn’t have to offer assurances about the world coming into being and nature coming into shape the way He designed it. He spoke and that was enough. You could take Him at His Word.
Your identity when it comes to your word is a matter of the heart. As Jesus makes abundantly clear.
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:33-37)
Your word should be good enough, because it’s coming from the heart. There’s no point in making references to other sources of power because you have no power over them. There’s no point swearing to things that don’t belong to you because they won’t bail you out. Your word should be enough.
Why the swearing is brought in is an indication of what it says about the condition of our heart. Is there something wrong with your integrity in and of yourself that a simple yes or no won’t convince? Is there something broken with trust that teaches people that there’s greater authority in referring to calamitous consequences happening or hailing on a higher power?
It is one of the most disappointing things in life that your word isn’t good enough. Yet whether it’s that reference to swearing on loved one, living or dead, or referring to a higher power, when it comes down to it you can still be untrue and unfaithful even if you make those claims. The power in your word should be the fruit of a heart that looks to be true and faithful to every word said. The condition of the heart should be such that the yes or no given is one with the utmost in sincerity, truth and faithfulness. That’s why it’s dodgy going to other sources to look to back up something you yourself should be quite capable of backing because that’s why you would give them you word. That word should have much currency in itself.
It does have a great deal of currency when its backed by that degree of purity of heart and the hunger and thirst for what’s right that will honour every sentiment shared.
When the heart is right and faithfulness is concrete, then you can take my word for it.
(Photo by Hunter Newton on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 