Keeping Your Word

The prince of all psalmists, King David, described a person of integrity as one “that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not” (Ps. 15:4 KJV). In another version, “who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (NIV). In the New King James Version (NKJV) “He who swears to his own hurt and does not change”. That means we keep our word even if it costs us dearly to fulfill it.

Keeping our word is a mark of our integrity. Oh, how we really admire, like, and love such a person. These kind of persons are rare, rarer than diamonds. When they give their word, no one will doubt that they will do it, come what may. These men of integrity can be trusted whenever they make a commitment. These rare species are destined to be good servant-leaders in the kingdom of God!

In the secular business world, integrity is equivalent to good credit. Good credit is equivalent to cash. When a businessman has a good credit, the banks will go after him and lend him capital to invest so he can generate more money, and the bank also prospers as well. And all because he keeps his word or pays on or before the due date of his account. Among my good paying clients belong to Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Davao City Chapter. They started from scratch, literally speaking, but because they are men of their word – with good credit standing, they have become multi-millionaires. Praise God for all of them. 

 

During World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur escaped from Bataan, Luzon, Philippines, leaving behind Gen. Jonathan Wainright and the emaciated Filipino and US soldiers. According to him, he has closetophobia, so instead of taking the submarine, he took a PT-boat going to Cagayan in Mindanao down to Bukidnon where there was an American airfield called Del Monte Airport; took a double-body airplane which flew him to Australia. His aid-de-camp who later became a general himself, recounted that while on the plane, MacArthur scribbled his intended statement when he would land in Australia as he expected a press conference to take place. He allegedly revised his statement several times until it was compressed into just one short paragraph only. Indeed, upon reaching Australia, the newsmen with all their paraphernalia were waiting for him for whatever statement he would make in regard to his historic escape and mission. When asked the question why he surreptitiously left the Philippines, he answered: “The President of the United States (referring to President Franklin D. Roosevelt), instructed me to penetrate enemy lines, come to Australia and organize an allied offensive against Japan. I came through and I shall return.”

That promise “I shall return” was indelibly written in the heart of the Filipinos and was their encouragement and inspiration to fight their enemy. This promise has been written in the sands of the sea, painted in the trunk of coconut trees, in the walls of the houses. On October 20, 1944, by the grace of God, MacArthur was enabled to fulfill his promise, so the Philippines is what it is now – a free and democratic country. As a lasting legacy and memory of the great general-liberator, today in every city and municipality in the Philippine Islands, there is a MacArthur highway or avenue or street. In Leyte of the Visayas Islands, where he first landed as well as in Lingayen where he landed when he recaptured Luzon, there is a monumental shrine showing him wading the seashore, with President Sergio Osmeña, Carlos P. Romulo and others. MacArthur was merely a human being, a creation of God, but due to his integrity as a soldier and a gentleman, he tried, and was able, to fulfill his promise. Because of his integrity (may isang salita [a man of his word], history records him as an American Ceasar – a famous conqueror of Japan, the liberator of the Philippines.

Upon the other hand, here is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by whom all things on earth and in heaven above have been created and have their existence, and He is God in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14).

Just before he was crucified, to die as our substitute to fulfill the scripture that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23), he made this solemn pledge, which General MacArthur copied in his famous “I shall return” promise:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3. And if I go and prepare for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

x x x x x x x x x

and made an assurance to his disciples and believers:

19. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live ye shall live also” (John 14:1-3:19 KJV).

In Revelation, the last book of our canonized Bible, the Apostle John records:

“7. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

And John repeated for emphasis:

“12. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (KJV).

If MacArthur by the grace and will of God was able to fulfill his promise “I shall return”, no doubt, and more so, the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God and who is God in the flesh (John 1:1 and 14), a supernatural being of utmost integrity and without equal, can and will truly fulfill his promises that he “will come again” and because he lives (as he resurrected and now in the right hand of God the Father interceding for all believers [Romans 8:34], “ye (we) shall live also”, and when he comes back, he will be bringing his reward for every faithful believer, “according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12). Notably, whenever the Lord Jesus makes a promise or assurance, he does not make a specific date, month or year, to fulfill it. In Tagalog, “Maghintay kayo” (In English, wait with patience). Many of us (including myself) are impatient. In fact, he said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24:36). So, if some religious “prophets” gives us a specific date, be wary about these self-proclaimed prophets. Remember, only God the Father knows the exact fulfillment of Jesus’ (God’s) promises.

Are you a believer? Are you working for the kingdom of God? What is your work in the kingdom? God has given us our individual talents for use in the service of his kingdom. Is your talent teaching? Then teach. Are you a preacher? Then preach. Are you good at singing like Nora Aunor? Then, sing for the glory of God. Paul was a lawyer and a prolific writer and thus using his talent, he authored thirteen of the twenty seven books of the New Testament. More than half! Believers are all servants in the kingdom of God. Let us use or exercise whatever talent was given to us, so when the appointed time comes, we shall have a reward. The reward must be beyond our wildest imagination and dream, more than the most precious jewel that we know. Certainly, more than a gold ring or diamond for the pawnshop, and this reward is eternal (forever and ever without end).

There is one thing a true Christian of integrity gives and must keep – his word. (FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Bulletin, July 7, 2012)