KEY SCRIPTURE: John 7:9 KJV” When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.”

The Jewish feast of Tabernacles or the feast of tents was a very important feast that every adult male had to attend or participate. It was a feast to commemorate their ancestors who dwelt in tents or Tabernacles during the exodus to the promised land. The Lord Jesus could not stay out of the celebrations, yet He had to keep Himself from being attacked by the Jewish leaders. In the light of this He kept to His word that He gave to His brothers by staying behind as they left. In such occasions most families move together yet He had to act differently knowing what evil plans some had towards Him. 2Th 3:2 KJV “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

In all these the Lord kept to His words although His brothers would have influenced Him to come along with them. We must learn to be people of our words.

There are some individuals who dishonor their own words such that, they no longer have confidence in themselves. They are not able to say, I am going to do this and then stick to it.

 Strength of character is a product of how consistent we stick to what we say.

One area that many find wanting is in keeping to punctuality. He promises to be present at 8:00 AM, yet He comes at 9:00 or even 10:00 a.m. Such a person gives His word to do a thing or a vow to pay some amount but fails.

 This one says it knowing very well he did not even mean to honour that word.

The scripture cautions us on the danger of such utterances. Eccl. 5:6 KJV.” Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

The preceding verse warns us against saying things we don’t mean to honour or we are not prepared to force ourselves to honour.

It says it is a way of causing your flesh to sin. It has certain hardships it brings to your flesh. It causes failure in what we do by making God angry with us. In 2nd Sam 21:1 King David suffered famine for three years because king Saul failed to honour a vow Joshua made with the Gibeonites.

 Although it was not Saul who entered into the pact with the Gibeonites but as a king he was accountable to every existing covenant of the nation.

Please note: A man who honours his words can easily trust God’s word

THOUGHT: YOUR WORDS ARE YOUR FIRST POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY, FAILURE TO HONOUR THEM, MAY SPELL FAILURE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

Num 30:6 KJV” And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;”

Psalms 24:4 KJV “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”