Yes and No

A couple of weeks ago our bible study finished the book of James.  James is a great book describing practical ways to live out your faith.  James 5:12 is a fairly well known verse that we read and talked about, but today the Spirit gave me a new revelation about this verse:

¹² But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Every time I’ve ever read this verse I’ve always focused on the “never take an oath” and “just say a simple yes or no”.  Today the Spirit showed me that there is an implied truth here which is even more important, that you are actually telling the truth, and that you will actually do what you said you were going to do.  No duh Nate, everybody already knew that, and there are plenty of other verses in the bible about being honest, but how does that play out practically?

In the case of this particular verse, it means living up to your word, and doing what you said you were going to do.  I don’t think I have a problem telling the truth, but I do think I (like most people) have a problem with honoring good intentions.  I like the quote “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.  This is especially true for anyone who thinks they can earn their salvation by good works, but that’s not how I apply it here.

We’re all full of good intentions, or at least most of us.  We want to do our best, we want to make people happy, we want to take on new challenges, we want to meet our existing responsibilities.  We want to do so much that sometimes we end up doing everything poorly, or we forget things, or we get there late, or we miss our deadline, or we de-prioritize; we disappoint those we love.

Our actions or inactions, even with the best intentions, indicate to others the stewardship and care we use with the love and truth that God has placed in us. It is an indicator of God’s transforming power in our lives, and a measuring stick others can use for how seriously we take our faith.  Ouch!  Maybe the text doesn’t say that in black and white, but that’s what the Living Word was telling me.  So let our yes be yes, and our no be no, but more importantly let us execute those good intentions with the same level of diligence that God uses when he makes a promise with us.

-Nate