A basic principle
Of course, there are far more important promises than keeping your word as a guest. However, the basic principle is the same regardless of whether the promise is a big or small problem. What kind of principle is that?
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ said, "Your word yes means only yes, you no, no." Jesus discouraged from taking oaths easily and without discrimination.It is obvious that a person does not need to back up all statements with an oath. You have to keep your word. In other words, your "yes" should really mean yes.
It is obvious that keeping your word is not always easy. Sometimes changing circumstances prevent it. The Bible says, however, that a righteous practitioner, favored by Jehovah God, "has sworn what is bad for him and yet nothing changes." (Ps.15: 1, 2, 4) Yes, you may have solemnly accepted something that seemed to conflict with your personal interests. But he kept his agreement.
Jehovah God himself is the most promising and therefore an excellent example for those who desire his service. Consequently, the godly man could write to Joshua: “Of all the good promises that Jehovah gave to the house of Israel, none failed; everything came true.
So what is the principle behind the words of Jesus, the statement of the psalmist and Joshua? Just that: the person should strive to keep his word. In fact, "yes" really should mean yes, unless you break your promise.
Valid reasons
Although the above principle really applies to large companies, let's reconsider the relatively simple issue of accepting an invitation to dinner with someone. Usually a person is invited to dinner with another person because of his friendship. For this reason, the landlord or hostess voluntarily spends time and money getting and cooking, just like the poor widows mentioned above. What friend would want to treat these things lightly, accept a dinner invitation and not show up for no reason? A true friendship alone would be a compelling reason to keep a date. Thinking about the time and money that the host spends would also be another reason.
Authenticity is another compelling reason to keep your word, not to accept an easily accepted invitation and therefore disappoint the guest. The psalmist David rightly said of God: “Look! They also liked the truth inside. "
But what if a person accepts an invitation to dinner in a modest home and then is invited to a banquet at a mansion the same night? If you go out to dinner with the rich and with few resources, learn, how will the poor feel? Certainly very hurt and disappointed. The desire not to cause so much pain is another compelling reason to honor the first invitation, and "yes" really means "yes."
Interestingly, when Jesus Christ sent some of his disciples to help others spiritually: “Wherever you enter a house, first say, 'May this house be at peace. And if there is a friend of peace, your peace will be with him. But if not, it will come back to you. So stay here and eat and drink what they offer you, because the worker deserves his salary. Do not go door to door.
Jesus' disciples were to remain in a home until their mission in the city was completed. His disciples would not move from one house to another because a certain homeowner owned more property or could give his disciples more comfort and joy than anyone else.
Just reminding Jesus' disciples of these instructions can influence a person's decision to agree to a meal in a humble home and then receive a more attractive invitation to enjoy a feast elsewhere at the same time. Disinterest and honesty would undoubtedly make the individual keep the original commitment.
It is very likely that the customer will have more fun in a modest home. The warm and relaxed atmosphere can be much more constructive than a large banquet! We read in the scriptures: "Better a bowl of vegetables in which there is love than a bull with a manger and hatred for it."
Of course, fairness and consideration for others ensure that a caring person keeps their promises. This is the course of truth expected of divine humans.And keeping your word also requires keeping accepted invitations to befriend good friends. This, of course, is a way of showing that your "yes" really means yes.
