Keeping Our Promise Builds Trust

If promises to God should not be taken lightly, the same can be said about those we make to fellow Christians.  We should not treat Jehovah one way and our brothers another way. ( Compare 1 John 4:20) In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:  "Just let your word Yes mean Yes, and your No, No."  (Matthew 5:37)  Making sure that our word is always trustworthy is one way to 'work what is good toward those related to us in the faith.'  (Galatians 6:10) Every promise we keep builds trust.

The damage done by breaking a promise is often magnified when money is involved.  Whether paying  back a loan, performing a service, or fulfilling a commercial agreement, a Christian should honor his word.  This pleases God and cements the mutual trust that is so essential if brothers are to "dwell together in unity." -Psalm 139:1.

Failure to abide by agreements, however, can harm the congregation as well as the individuals directly involved.  A traveling overseer observes:  "Business disputes - invariably caused by agreements that at least one party considers dishonored - often become public knowledge.  As a result, brothers take sides, and the atmosphere in the Kingdom Hall may become tense."  How important it is to consider carefully whatever agreement we make and put the matter in writing!

Caution should also be exercised when selling costly products or recommending investments, especially if we personally  profit from the transaction.  Likewise, there is a need to be very careful not to exaggerate the benefits of certain articles or health products or to promise unrealistic returns on investments.  Love should move Christians to explain fully any risks involved.  (Romans 12:10) Since most brothers have limited business experience, they may trust our advice simply because we are related to them in faith.   How tragic it would be if this trust were undermined!

As Christians, we cannot adopt business practices that are dishonest or that ignore the legitimate interest of others.  (Ephesians 2:2, 3; Hebrews 13:18) To have Jehovah's favor as 'guests in his tent,' we must be trustworthy.  'Even if we have sworn to what is bad for us, we do not alter.' -Psalm 15:1, 4.

Judge Jephthah of Israel vowed that if God gave him victory over the Ammonites, he would give to Jehovah as a burnt offering the first one  who met him after returning from battle That one turned out to be Jephthahs only child, but he did not go back on his word.  With his daughter's heartfelt agreement, he offered her for permanent service at God's sanctuary - a sacrifice that undoubtedly was painful and costly in various ways. -Judges 11:30-40.

Especially do congregation overseers have a responsibility to abide by their agreements. According to 1 Timothy 3:2, an overseer should be "irreprehensible."  This is the rendering of a Greek term meaning "not able to be taken hold of, irreproachable, beyond reproach."  It  "implies not only that the man is of good report, but that he is deservedly so."  (A Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament)  Since an overseer must be irreprehensible, his promises should always be reliable.

Next time: Other Ways to Keep Our Promises

The Watchtower, 1999