“He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth
not.” Psalm 15:4
The following question was asked in Psalm 15:1: “Lord, who shall
abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”
Many people are still asking this question today, and the answer is
very important to us. King David proceeded to answer his own
question with a list of characteristics and attributes of an
individual that would abide in the tabernacle of God. This citizen
of Zion described was one who would keep his word even to his own
hurt. While many discount the importance of telling the truth all
the time, an individual approved of God will always keep his word.
It is very easy for people today to try to back out of their
obligations. In our society it often comes down to people only
keeping their word if it can be documented and proved in a court of
law that they are obligated to someone or something.
When a child of God tells someone they will do something, it is not
a legal but a moral issue. The citizen of Zion is an individual who
will keep his word and obligations even if it means inconvenience
and expense to himself. When people have their electric or water
turned on at the house, by tacit consent they are agreeing to pay
the bill for those services on time. When money is owed someone, the
child of God will pay it back regardless of the hardship it causes.
When a saved individual tells someone, “I will help you on Saturday,
you can count on me” then they will be there on Saturday. Other
things may come up, but there is now an obligation. This is not to
say that there can’t be mutually agreed on changes of plans, but a
citizen of Zion does not break his word.
Sometimes people use the excuse by saying, “I didn’t promise
though,” as if that relieves them of their responsibility to follow
through. A ‘promise’ makes no difference to a real Christian. Our
simple words should be our bond without any papers or document proof
necessary.
This is one reason children of God should be very careful with their
words and commitments - that an obligation not be hastily agreed to.
But, once a commitment has been made, then regardless of expense to
plans or pleasure, there is a moral obligation as a citizen in Zion
to follow through.
