Nothing damages your relationship with others more than not keeping your word. This is the physical manifestation of trust. If you don’t keep your word, you can’t be trusted. How often have we quickly volunteered to do something without thinking and later regreted our decision? Then, we try to make excuses to get out of the commitment we’ve made, in order to do something we had rather do. The Bible tells us the importance of keeping our word. Our integrity is what people respect us for, not all the things we are capable of doing. God tells us how important it is for us to keep our promises and do what we say we will do. (Psalm 15:4-5 Who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5. Who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.) When you give your word to someone you are not only representing yourself, you are representing God, your church, as well as for your family. A person of integrity does what they say they will do, when they say they will do, and to the best of their ability. Think before you make those promises, but if you make them you must be willing to carry them through. People see right through your excuses. Pastor Don [image: image.png]