3 December Deuteronomy 23

Keep your promises

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (ERV) “When you make a promise to the Lord your God, don’t be slow to pay everything you promised. The Lord your God will demand that you pay it. You will sin if you don’t pay what you promised. If you don’t make a promise, you are not sinning. 23 But you must do what you say you will do. If you choose to make a promise to the Lord your God, you must do what you promised”. This is accentuated in Ecclesiastes 5:4 (ERV) “If you make a promise to God, keep your promise. Don’t be slow to do what you promised. God is not happy with fools. Give God what you promised to give him”.

It is crucial to discipline yourself to fulfil your promises. Making promises is voluntary. If you make a promise, make sure you fulfil it. Don’t make promises that you have no intention of fulfilling. Some people quickly make promises and forget about them immediately because they do not intend to fulfil them. Hosea 10:4 (ERV) “They make promises, but they are only telling lies. They don’t keep their promises. They make agreements with other countries. God does not like those agreements.

Failure to keep your promises amounts to lying. Ephesians 4:25 (AMP) “Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumours, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbour, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ]”.

Being a promise-breaker makes people question the authenticity of your claim of being a Christian. Matthew 5:16 (AMP) “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honour and] glorify your Father who is in heaven”.

Promise-breakers will reap what they have sown. Isaiah 33:1b (TLB) “You expect others to respect their promises to you, while you betray them! Now you, too, will be betrayed and destroyed”. King Solomon confirms this in Proverbs 25:14 (TLB)“One who doesn’t give the gift he promised is like a cloud blowing over a desert without dropping any rain”

Keeping promises is not just a matter of integrity; it reflects your character and your relationship with God. When you make a promise, you declare it should be upheld with sincerity and discipline. As Scripture repeatedly emphasises, God expects us to honour our commitments—not only to Him but also to others.

Failing to fulfil promises damages trust, tarnishes your witness as a Christian, and has consequences. However, fulfilling your promises glorifies God and demonstrates moral excellence. Jesus taught us to let our light shine so others see our good works and glorify our heavenly Father.

Therefore, consider your words carefully before making a promise. Let your promises be rare but reliable. Speak truthfully, act faithfully, and let your actions testify to God’s faithfulness. In doing so, you honour God and your fellow man, cultivating trust and leaving a legacy of integrity.