Counsel #15 — Promises in Action

Picture: Counsel #15 — Promises in ActionCR 104.1

We’ve all been there—promising to meet a friend, helping with a project, or following through on a personal commitment. It’s easy to say “yes” in the moment, but what really matters is the follow-through.^{[107] https://stewardship.adventist.org/page481} CR 104.2

When people know they can rely on you, they see you as dependable and responsible, which builds a personal reputation of integrity. This applies to friendships, family, work, and school. Think about it. No one wants to make plans with someone who never sees their “yes” through. When commitments are broken, people will start to question your reliability, making it harder to build meaningful connections, especially in workplaces! Not keeping your word at your job can lead to missed promotions or even termination. God expects us to honor our word, even when it’s inconvenient. The rule of thumb should always be, “If you don’t think you can do something, don’t say you can.” Be honest from the beginning—your honesty will be respected and valued way more than your premature “yes.”CR 104.3

“[Lord,] Who may dwell on your holy mountain? The one who lives with integrity, … who keeps his word even when it hurts and does not change,” Psalms 155:1b, 2a, 4b ISVCR 104.4

“After we have made a promise, even though we consider that we have acted against our own interests to the advantage of others, we are not to break our word.” Ellen White in Manuscript , 37, 1908, par. 7CR 104.5

Reflect: How can you communicate honestly if you realize you can’t keep a commitment?CR 104.6