Other Ways to Keep Our Promises

How should we view promises we make to those who are not fellow Christians?  "Let your light shine before men," said Jesus,  "that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens." (Matthew 5:16) By proving that we  honor our word, we may attract others to our Christian message.  Despite the worldwide decline in standards of honesty, most people still value integrity.  Keeping our promises is one way to display love for God and neighbor and to appeal to lovers of righteousness. -Matthew 22:36-39; Romans 15:2.

During their 1998 service year, Jehovah's Witnesses spent over a billion hours publicly declaring the good news of God's Kingdom.  (Matthew 24:14)  Some of this preaching may fallen on deaf ears if we have not kept our word on business dealings or in other matters.  Since we represent the God of truth, people rightly  expect us to act, honestly. By being trustworthy and honest, we 'adorn the teaching of our Savior, God, in all things." -Titus 2:10.

In our ministry, we have opportunities to keep our word when we return to visit those who express interest in the Kingdom message.  If we say that we will call back, we should do so.  Returning as we have promised is a way 'not to hold back good from those to whom it is owing.' (Proverbs 3:27)  One sister explained the matter this way:  "On several occasions, I have met interested individuals who said that a Witness had promised to call back but had not done so. Of course, I know that the householders may not have  been at home  or that circumstances  may have made it impossible to return.  But i wouldn't like anyone to say that of me, so I do my utmost to find the person at home again.  I believe that if I let someone down , it will reflect badly on Jehovah and my brothers as a whole."

In some cases, we may not feel inclined to return because we conclude that the person is not really interested.  The same sister explains:  "I don't try to judge the amount of interest. My own experience has taught me that first impressions are often wrong.  So I try to be positive, viewing each person as a potential brother or sister." 

In the Christian ministry  and in many other areas, we need to show that our word can be trusted. True, some things  are more easily said than done.  the wise man noted:  "A multitude of men will proclaim each one his own loving-kindness, but a faithful man who can find?  (Proverbs 20:6) With determination, we can be faithful and true to our word. 

Next time: Rich Blessings From God

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999