Can they take your word for it?
When we were children we used to say we would do something whilst crossing our fingers behind our back as though that held some power to prevent us from sticking to whatever we said. Eventually twigging onto that we employed the equally absurd charge that someone should cross their hearts and hope to die to reinforce the truthfulness of their statement.
It was clear event then that we needed something to verify and ratify a word. We needed it for our assurance. We needed it to hold the other person to account. Underneath all of that, we needed it because we could not take the word for it. For a range of reasons some might be inclined to be somewhat less than trustworthy in the accurate relaying of information from their perspective. When we apply serious consequence for deception, it at least leaves a heavy consequence if one should think about it. It should be a deterrent – but it does not always deter.
It is a reflection on the state of humanity that these props and crutches and these are no guarantee of the outcome we desire.
It is into this condition that Jesus does something dramatic. He whips away the props and crutches.
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
They should be able to take your word for it when you speak. They should be able to do this because your word comes from a fully trusted source. It comes with truth and integrity. It requires no reference point to things over which you have no real power. It strikes to the heart of the matter that those who are children of God can speak in the light of the same character for truthfulness. God said it – it happened. God said it was so – it was so. there was no discrepancy between what He said and what happened. We ca rush to say that it’s alright for God, but He has created us with the ability to live this way and to help things out further, He has given us His spirit so we learn to operate that way.
Yet will those tendencies to deceive take the preferred place again? Will we look to copy those in the world around us who are loose with the truth and tend to see it as a bit of a hindrance to doing what you wanted or saying what you want to say? Is it better to just go with the flow and appropriate the necessity for truth and honesty to times that suit us giving the allowance for other types of communication in other settings?
Or will we hear, obey and teach others to observe what King Jesus says?
(Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 