Promises, Promises

Good day to each of you reading this column on promises, promises. Does this bring back memories of the song title with that name? 

It’s that time for some humor from

https://godslittleacre.net/funnies/short_christian_jokes_1.html

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your bible a little and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it.” After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father’s study where his father said, “Son, I’ve been really proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you’ve studied your bible diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut.” The young man waited a moment and replied, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. You know, Samsom had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair!”, to which is father replied, “Yes, you’re right, and they also WALKED everywhere they went!”

A small child with a bad cough was taken by her parents to a hospital emergency room. A nurse, examining the child’s lungs with a stethoscope, told the child, “I have to see if Barney is in there.” “I have Jesus in my heart,” the child replied. “Barney is on my underwear.”

The story goes that a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated that he sentenced the jester to be executed. His court prayed upon the king to have mercy for this man who had served him well for so many years. After a time, the king relented only enough to give the jester his “choice” as to how he would like to die. True to form, the jester replied, “if it’s all the same to you my Lord, I’d like to die of old age.”

Great funny and clean jokes—where’s the comedian who can make us laugh without making us blush?

Recently, I read an article on why I believe in promises and can we believe anyone anymore? This got me thinking about how I hear the two words of “I promise” and how this is thrown around in today’s society. It seems we hear this from politicians, sales people, ministers, lawyers, and the public in general who say and don’t back it up.

I think this goes back to when we were growing up and, as a child, one would say, “I Promise” and “Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye” when telling someone a secret and they would come back with the above.

Ouch, stick a needle in my eye—no wonder kids broke a promise since they didn’t want a needle in their eye. In fact, I wouldn’t want to hear that secret.

No longer a kid, we grow into adults and parents and still we break our promise and all too many times think nothing of it. I think of the song, “Cat’s in the Cradle” as a very good illustration of a boy who’s going to be like his father and that the father who promises to play ball with his boy and never does it and then the child becomes a college student who turns the table and asks for the car keys and to say “see you later, can I borrow the keys?”

This song ends up with the married son getting a call from his dad about coming home and his son saying “I’d love to see you if I could find the time, you see my job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu” but it was sure nice speaking to you, dad.

Promises, promises and how time flies for a failed promise are a lie and those who make a broken promise are no good to their word.

In an age where promises are broken and words are meaningless, it is our Christian duty to make our word our bond and when we make a promise, to uphold that promise.

Think about it, have you ever made a promise to God and then not deliver? The Bible is very explicit when it comes to making promises or vows to God.

• Turn to the following: Deuteronomy 23:21-23: 

“If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will surely demand it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You must perform what has passed your lips, the freewill offering you vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.” 

• As a dual witness, turn to: Numbers 30:2: 

“If a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word. He must do everything he has promised.” 

• And, turn to: Ecclesiastes 5:4-7: 

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. Better not to vow than to vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin…” 

Here you have three verses that give you the time frame, the demand of you, and what will happen if you do not fulfill what you vowed. This is serious and will have serious consequences when dealing with God.

You are in no position to bargain with God so delete any idea about bargaining about a lottery ticket with God.

How many promises has God made and what is his track record? 100% since the beginning of time—we can’t say that. God has always delivered and will continue to deliver and he is our example of a promise made is a promise kept.

God is our example of promises kept and Satan is our example of the father of lies and deceiving the whole world including each of us. Remember, Satan does not want you and I and our population to believe what God has promised so take note and be not deceived.

As a Christian, we must always stand on the word of God and know with no doubts that God’s promises are 100% true and absolute.

What better example of keeping your promise and making your word your bond for James 5:12 (NIV) says ¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Think before you speak and never be rash when making a promise.

May God bless you in your endeavors and may you always Praise God from whom all blessing flow!