With Integrity I Can Be Counted On

In review of Proverbs 25:14 it says, “People who promise things they never give are like clouds and wind that brings no rain” (GNT).

Many who promise to give fail to follow through. God's Word is very clear about the effect this has. Therefore If I'm going to make a pledge to help or give, I must keep my promise.

Those who don’t follow through on their commitments are like clouds that never produce the benefit of rain. To be a person of integrity, I must keep my word. When I say I’ll do something, I need to do it.

I may have every intention of keeping my promises when I make them. But if I don’t follow through, it leads to negative consequences, some of which I may not even be aware of.

For instance, when you break a promise to my spouse or my immediate family, bitterness may seep into the relationship like a poison. My friends and family can’t trust me if I continually break my promises to them.

I may claim that circumstances may have changed. And often they do. But having integrity means I keep my promises even if they no longer benefit me, even if it hurts or cost me more than I anticipated.

The Bible says, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.”(Proverbs 10:9 NLT). When I keep my promises, I’ll walk securely. In other words, reliability leads to stability. When people can take me at my word, my dependability produces tremendous confidence in their lives and in mine.

It may be tough to keep all of my promises, but when I do, God will honor my commitment. Psalm 15:4 says that God blesses people who “keep their promises . . . even when it hurts” (NCV).

In summary, those who promise things they never give, are like clouds that bring no rain. If I'm going to make a pledge, I must keep my promise. To be a person of integrity, I must keep my word. When I say I'll do something, I need to do it. Even when circumstances change, having integrity means keeping my promises even if it no longer benefits me or hurts or cost me more than I anticipated. When I keep my promises, I'll walk securely. Reliability leads to stability. When people can take me at my word, my dependability produces tremendous confidence in their lives and in mine. So it may be tough to keep all of my promises, however when I do, God will honor my commitment.

Today I need to consider what promises I’ve made that I haven’t kept yet. What comes to mind, are some dates that are coming up that I agreed to for some critical corrective actions. I need to review to see if I can keep on track with these. 

Father I pray this morning for your help. Please infuse me with the Holy Spirit and keep me on track for promises and commitments I’ve made. Also help me to not blindly agree to a promise or commitment without knowing that I can be committed to it. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my tasks, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen.