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Piggy bank incident.
Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to give our word and then break it.
We do it all the time and yet somehow we let it go.
I’ll be praying for you.
Here’s a great example of how we do this in the church culture.
Someone tells you of something hard going on in their life and our well meaning response at trying to comfort them is, ‘I’ll be praying for you’.
Knowing full well that we probably won’t remember to do it.
In our passage today, James is going to teach us something profound about our word, our integrity and who we are.
In our passage today, James is going to teach us something profound about our word, our integrity and who we are.
If you’re new with us today we are coming close to the end of a series entitled “James: From Skeptic To Servant” where we’ve been going through the book of James.
If you’re new with us today we are coming close to the end of a series entitled “James: From Skeptic To Servant” where we’ve been going through the book of James.
Today finds us in
Today finds us in
'But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
‘
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/
If you’re taking notes write this down.
If you’re taking notes write this down.
Your word reflects your present intentions but your follow through reflects your character.
'But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath’ :12A
There was a distinction—especially in the Jewish world—between oaths which were binding and oaths which were not binding.
Any oath in which the name of God was directly used was considered to be definitely binding, but any oath in which direct mention of the name of God was not made was held not to be binding.
The idea was that, once God’s name was definitely used, he became an active partner in the transaction, but he did not become a partner unless his name was introduced in this way.
The result of this was that it became a matter of skill and sharp practice to find an oath which was not binding.
This made a mockery of the whole practice of confirming anything by an oath.
The result of this was that it became a matter of skill and sharp practice to find an oath which was not binding.
This made a mockery of the whole practice of confirming anything by an oath.
Barclay, W. (2003).
The Letters of James and Peter (3rd ed.
fully rev.
and updated, p. 146).
Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.
We can see
Here James brings us to the problem of the two tiered way we give our word.
He says, don’t swear by the things of heaven or the things on earth that you value.
He says, don’t swear by the things of heaven or the things on earth that you value.
I swear on my life.
I swear to God.
I swear on my family.
These all undermine a simple truth.
I swear on my life.
I swear to God.
I swear on my family.
These all undermine a simple truth.
Either you mean it or you don’t.
Here’s where the subtlety comes into play.
It’s the two tiered system of giving our word.
Either you mean it or you don’t.
Here’s where the subtlety comes into play.
It’s the two tiered system of giving our word.
The more we use oaths to reinforce our intentions the less our word means something.
The more we use oaths to reinforce our intentions the less our word means something.
I swear on my family that this or that.
Implies that when you simply give your word it’s just a strong maybe.
I swear on my family that this or that.
Implies that when you simply give your word it’s just a strong maybe.
Or when we speak in our defence.
I swear to God I didn’t do it, implies that on those occasions where you simply say you didn’t do it it’s a strong indicator that perhaps you did.
Or when we speak in our defence.
I swear to God I didn’t do it, implies that on those occasions where you simply say you didn’t do it it’s a strong indicator that perhaps you did.
So why is this a big deal?
So why is this a big deal?
Because it’s an issue of integrity and character.
Because words come easy to us in the moment but it’s the follow through that is hard.
Because it’s an issue of integrity and character.
Because words come easy to us in the moment but it’s the follow through that is hard.
Remember,
Remember,
Your word reflects your present intentions but your follow through reflects your character.
When we use a two tiered way of giving our word it implies to others that we are not people of integrity and character.
But it’s more than that.
We give priority to the things with which we swore with an oath over those times that we simply gave our word.
But it’s more than that.
We give priority to the things with which we swore with an oath over those times that we simply gave our word.
What if you were known for your follow through, your character and integrity.
What if you were known for your follow through, your character and integrity.
This is profound.
It’s profound in life, in relationships, in community, in business.
This is profound.
It’s profound in life, in relationships, in community, in business.
And it will change the way you live your life.
And it will change the way you live your life.
Now you might say, Lucas.
How is that going to change the way that I live.
I will simply stop swearing by things and just give my word.
Now you might say, Lucas.
How is that going to change the way that I live.
I will simply stop swearing by things and just give my word.
Here’s how it changes the way we live.
Remember....
Here’s how it changes the way we live.
Remember....
Your word reflects your present intentions but your follow through reflects your character.
If we really dig into this principle we will stop giving our word out like candy.
If this becomes a filter for living our lives then we will focus on the follow through rather than the good intentions in the moment.
If this becomes a filter for living our lives then we will focus on the follow through rather than the good intentions in the moment.
When we count the cost of giving our word it begins to mean more to those that we give it to because we have thought through what the follow through looks like.
When we count the cost of giving our word it begins to mean more to those that we give it to because we have thought through what the follow through looks like.
Let’s return to the classic church culture moment.
That moment when someone has shared their struggle with you and your habit is to say, I’ll be praying for you.
Let’s hit pause for a moment.
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