A Simple Answer

Scripture – James 5:12-16: ¹²Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned. ¹³Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. ¹⁴Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) One of the on-going frustrations I have with people is the refusal to say “yes” or “no.” I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s a fear of making a commitment they might not be able to keep. I hear a lot of “I’ll try,” or “I really want to,” or something like that. I do know a few people who will say, “Yes, I’ll do that,” or “Yes, I’ll be there,” and I know I can count on them. As for the others….I just need to remember the instruction, “Do not swear.”

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) Personally, I will work at telling the truth myself. I consciously keep that in mind when I say “yes” or “no.” When things come up that take me away from a commitment, I apologize. However, I will continue thinking things through before I make a commitment.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, thank you for your perfect “yes” in my life. Forgive my impatience and arrogance with other people. Give me wisdom as I make my own commitments. Teach me to tell the truth clearly today.