Matthew 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the Evil One.”
NAB
How many times have you heard of a business deal sealed with a handshake? What about the phrase, “A man’s word is his bond.” Well, I haven’t heard that in a long time. I am not sure that people work that way anymore. What I have experienced is a landscaping crew who promised to return tomorrow to finish the job, but showed up two months later. The cable TV company that promised to come for Thursday morning yet arrived at sunset. Things happen. The best of intentions are often not enough. I myself have a problem with time; I am either early or late, but never punctual. When I make an appointment, I really try to arrive early. Traffic, a train, a last minute phone call, or a dozen other distractions seem to conspire against me. I hate the way I feel when I realize I am going to be late. My pulse jumps and I get an ache. Does it affect you that way? Am I being overly sensitive? Why should I care? I care because I gave my word. I want to act with integrity.
Remember high school? There are some schools where a person can leave a textbook, phone, or computer in the cafeteria or a classroom or the library, and it won’t be stolen. There are some kids who accept the first invitation to the school dance without waiting for a better offer.
What does it mean to act with integrity? It means that if you say, “The check is in the mail” you mean it. It means that you keep your word even if it becomes inconvenient to do so. The best example of this can be found in our men and women in uniform. The United States military is known for building character. Recruits are expected to follow orders, to take responsibility for their actions, and to show respect. At some point, “have to” becomes “want to”, obligations become opportunities. They train young men and women to act with integrity.
What kind of person are you? If I loaned you money, would you repay it? If I trusted you to babysit my child, would she be safe? If I hired you to repair my car, would you do it to the best of your ability? Dioes your “yes” mean “yes” and your “no” mean “no”?
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