ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU SAY.

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In James 1, we find that when we need wisdom we should ask God for it, and He will give it. But we must ask in faith. We are not to waver, hesitate, or doubt. The person who does these things will receive nothing he asks for from the Lord. Why? If the man cannot settle on something and make a decision about what he believes, how can God give him anything? A man of two mind is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, see James 1:8.

The double-minded man is unreliable and unstable. This is not a reputation anyone want to have. I want people and the Lord to be able to depend on me, to know that I mean what I say and won't change my mind without a very good reason.

Paul told the Corinthians that when he said yes to them, it meant yes. He promised that yes would not end up being no (see 2 Corinthians 1:17-18). In other words, Paul was promising not to be double-minded. He was telling the Chur h members that they could count on him to be stable, and he would keep his word to them.

Integrity is extremely important for every person, and especially for those who lead others. How could Paul expect to be respected if he was unreliable? He couldn't, and neither can we. 

I want to be in relationship with people I can depend on, people I know who are decisive, stable, and reliable. I want to be able to trust people. Good relationship are built on trust. I was recently involved in an event that required people to sign up ahead of time, indicating whether or not they would be attending. We had nine hundred people say they were coming, and only seven hundred showed up. Very few of them made any effort to cancel or even communicate that they were coming. The problem was twofold: first, they did not keep their word, and second, we had purchased and cooked meat for nine hundred and since seven hundred showed up, we obviously had a lot of meat left over.

This was inconsiderate on their parts and harmful on them spiritually because they didn't honor their commitment. This is a widespread problem today in our society. Most people don't think anything at all about saying they will do a thing and then changing their minds without any good reason, except they did not feel like doing what they said they would do. Their excuse is "I CHANGED MY MIND"

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The very least we very least we can do when we have made a commitment and cannot or will not keep it is to make a phone call and say so. Don't just leave people hanging, not having any idea what happened.

Those who didn't attend the event I mentioned thought it didn't matter. But it always makes a difference if we don't do what we say we will.

Our word is a verbal contact. This verse shows that God considers it to be a vow:

When you vow a vow or make a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God has no pleasure in fools (those who witlessly mock Him). Paying what you vow is better that you should not vow than you should not vow than that you should not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).

We should take these scriptures to heart and view them seriously. Don't make commitment rashly without giving thought to whether or not you are prepared to follow through. I am sure that some of the two hundred people who failed to show up had good reasons for not doing so, but I am equally sure that most of them just plain didn't see the need to keep their word.

When we keep our word, even if it is inconvenient for us to do so, it shows good character. We should be concerned about our example because the world is watching those of us who claim to be Christians. They want to see if we are all living what we are saying or believe.

I have witnessed people signing up for thing and not showing up numerous times during my years involvement with people in the church. I started out being shocked because I assumed church people could be trusted, but I quickly learned that just because someone goes to church, he is not automatically honest and trustful.

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The one who don't keep their word always have an excuse of some kind, but I don't believe they have peace. We cannot be double-minded, unreliable and unstable and enjoy peace at the same time. We may try to override the feelings of conviction about not keeping our commitment, but it's presence nibbles away at the peace of God want to enjoy.

One of the ways to maintain peace with God, with yourself and your fellow man is to do what you say you will do. Once you have made up your mind, don't change it unless you have no other choice.

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