Proverbs 25:14 – Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.
“’Good intentions stink,’ that’s what my pastor said” a brother in the Lord told me many moons ago. At first, not being sure of the intent of the statement, I wasn’t sure I agreed with the statement. After all, doesn’t God look at the heart? (1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Samuel 13:14) Though King David was a man who committed horrible sins He was also a man who, in spite of His flaws, truly loved God and sought to please Him. (Acts 13:22) God’s great love and care for King David has taught me about God’s great love for me. I was curious to hear what my brother was about to explain.
His pastor had made the point that those who intended to do well, but then, for whatever reason, not doing what was intended, for no good reason, well that just stinks. What if a father comes home a little beat up from work and his son greets him at the door with baseball gloves and a baseball and says to his dad “Oh boy, oh boy Daddy I’m so glad you’re home! I’ve been waiting for you to come home so we can play catch like you promised yesterday! Yippee!” However the boy’s heart sinks as his father says to him “Sure Son, we can do that, just let Daddy rest a bit first. I’m very tired from work. We’ll play catch in a little bit. Is that okay? You understand, right Son?” His son had heard this many times and more often than not, Dad watched T.V. and laid down on the couch and didn’t play catch. So the boy was hopeful, but not convinced that Dad would play catch as he had promised. Now, when the father had promised his son that he would play catch, he had sincerely meant it. Truly his intentions were good, but the keeping of the good intentions did not happen. Having good intentions is not what matters if the good intentions are like fruit that drop from a tree only to rot away and stink. Unfilled promises, to the children who love us, stink.
Family, it is likely we have all had good intentions that we did not live up to. Jesus said “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”” (Mathew 5:37) If we promise something, then we should live up to it. If we are not sure that we can deliver, than don’t promise. To God, our given word is a contract that should not be broken. Yet our good intentions are often given with weak commitment. One may promise to another that they will always love the other and will never do anything to hurt the other person. A very good intention. Then, the person does hurt the other. A promise not kept. And the hurt person, who had said they would love the other (who hurt them) does not act in a loving way (by not giving up on the one who hurt them), but instead withdraws the stated love. Oh there are plenty of reasons, plenty of excuses, but in the end, a failure to live out the good intention, well, it stinks.
Many of us make grand promises to God. Here is God’s perspective: Deuteronomy 23:21-23 “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.” God desires that we be wise in our statements, not as little children who with good intentions, but lack of wisdom, promise to do what one does not have the ability, or follow up, to actually do. Do not promise and then not do. It is better to not make a promise and then to do what was in one’s heart than to make a promise and not keep it. Yes, we have forgiveness through Jesus (John 1:9), but we should value and honor His sacrifices on our behalf. Disciples fashion their lives after their masters, so ought we. God does not promise and then not do, but every word that He has ever uttered He either has, or will keep (Psalm 33:11, Matthew 5:18). Praise God for that! Praise God that all of God’s good intentions for us will come true. Chiefly, He will keep us and not lose us who love Him. (John 6:39) Let’s let our yes be yes and our no be no. Let’s not make promises without due consideration. Let us consider the costs. As we promise to serve the Lord forever, and as we make promises to each other, let us be wise. (Luke 14:25-35).
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.