Several years ago, James Patterson and Peter Kim wrote a book
called,
”
The Day America Told The Truth.
”
The book clearly revealed just how pervasive lying is in our
culture.
Several years ago, James Patterson and Peter Kim wrote a book called, “The Day America Told The Truth.” The book clearly revealed just how pervasive lying is in our culture. But just because most people lie, does that justify you doing it? While you may say, “No, it doesn’t,” you are faced with the reality that there are not many good role models to follow. There is one, however, that we should pay close attention to. His name is Jesus, and he has a lot to say about the importance of honesty.
Consider his words in Matthew 5:33-37, where he tells the audience, “You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘Don’t break your promises, but keep the promises you make to the Lord.’ But I tell you, never swear an oath. Don’t swear an oath using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. Don’t swear an oath using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God… Don’t even swear by your own head, because you cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.”
The people in Jesus’ day had often heard the religious experts refer to the Third Commandment: “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” The focus of the Commandment was about honoring God by keeping your word. The teaching of the Scriptures was crystal clear: God’s people were to be honest. But many of the religious leaders pretended there were loopholes in the Commandment. They reasoned that by making certain promises to God they could avoid keeping promises to others. In this way, they robbed even their families of what was rightfully theirs.
Eugene Peterson’s modern-day paraphrase (The Message Bible) does a great job of expressing Jesus’ thoughts in terms that you and I can relate to. Here’s how Peterson renders Jesus’ response to the dishonesty of the religious leaders:
“You’re hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, ‘If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that’s nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that’s serious.’ What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands? And what about this piece of trivia: ‘If you shake hands on a promise, that’s nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that’s serious’? What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands? A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.” (Matthew 23:16-20).
It is impossible to miss the point of Jesus’ statements. And yet how many of us feel OK breaking our word if we just verbally agreed on something without signing a contract?
Jesus says that honesty isn’t really all that complicated: If you make a promise, keep it, or don’t make it in the first place. When my granddaughter was just a toddler, I told her that when she turned five, her Grandma and I would take her to Disneyland. Do you think she forgot that promise? She may forget where she took off her clothes two minutes ago, but she never forgot that promise, and she got to celebrate her fifth birthday with Mickey and Minnie.
Moms and dads, when you make promises to your kids, keep them. Husbands and wives, do you remember those promises you made to love, honor, cherish and respect one another? Keep them. And Christian, that promise you made to put God and his priorities first in your life… keep it.
Henry Harris is Senior Pastor of Rolling Hills Community Church, 330 Tres Pinos Road, Hollister. If you have questions or comments, visit the church’s Web site at rollinghillsfamily.com, e-mail pa*********@ro****************.com or call 831-636-5353.
