“And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts—” (Jeremiah 34:18, ESV)
Years ago, I pastored a small church. One of my parishioners came to me and stated that she should like to be involved in a ministry in our community to help others. I asked her what should we do. She suggested a ministry in a nursing home. I said to her that I would look into it and if she would commit to being faithful to this ministry, to which she said yes.
So, I set the ministry up. We would go to the local nursing home every other Sunday and conduct a worship service. The helpers would go there and help the residents to the cafeteria and distribute the hymnals where we would conduct the service.
She along with others was there at the first service. However, that was the only time she came to help.
The problem is that we often make commitments and fail to keep them. I am grateful for God’s mercy and grace.
In Jeremiah’s day the people of Israel failed to free those Jews that had been forced into slavery according to the covenant they made in the temple. The freeing of the slaves was a provision of the law that every seventh year the Hebrew slaves would be released. However, the people did not keep their covenant to keep the law.
In establishing this covenant, they slaughtered a calf and cut it in two. Then they walked between the pieces to signify their commitment. Walking through the parts of the animal signified the judgment that should come upon them if they did not keep their promise. The onslaught of the Babylonian army would bring destruction upon the people. Those that broke the covenant would experience this judgment.
You know, I am glad that we live under the time of grace by faith in Jesus. In biblical days people would make lofty binding oaths and fail to keep them. The Scripture tells us to be careful in making oaths.
Jesus stated, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” (Matthew 5:37, ESV)
James wrote, “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” (James 5:12, ESV)
While we are living in a New Covenant where God extends mercy and grace to us, our integrity is still important. Too often people will agree to do something without counting the cost of commitment. One problem is that others are counting on us to keep our word. Often plans and energy are put into action and then fail because those that promise to help do not.
Yet another problem is that failure to keep one’s word can start a person on a slippery slope. It is where they can develop a chronic behavior pattern where they are willy nilly about keeping their promises.
A great issue here is that of the Christian’s testimony. A chronic failure to keep one’s word is a flaw in one’s integrity. Yes, we as believers are under grace and there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Yet our lives do not reflect the wonder of God’s grace working in us if we characteristically fail to keep our word.
We must let our yes be yes and our no be no.
Renewing the Heart 