After writing last week’s blog to do something, I came across the following quotation:

Commitment is doing the thing you said you would do, long after the mood you said it in has left you! – George Zalucki

I realized there is a second part of the call to do something and that is to do what you say. Remember, I’m speaking to myself, too.  

Have you ever been involved in something and thought, I’m going to do something. Or even better, told the person or group of something you were going to do to help out only to return home and forget all about it. I know I have. I’ve been touched by something on the mission field and returned home to my normal routine and forgotten all about it. Father, forgive me.

I’ve also had others come visit and talk about how they were going to come back and help or raise funds to help in the work only to not hear from them again. I had one missionary tell me, “I never get excited about someone’s promises until I see them come to pass.” She had been around enough to know that people get excited, speak without counting the cost, and get lost in their own worlds at home, forgetting about what happened when they were visiting you.

But does it have to be this way? 

In James the Bible talks about being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. It is dealing with anger, but it also talks about being doers and not just hearers of the word. Maybe we need to take the time to listen, listen to others and listen to the Lord before we speak about what we can do. Then we can fulfill our promises instead of breaking them. I’ve been reminded how broken promises, my own or those of others, have brought disappointment and hurt. We don’t want to be known or remembered that way.

Why do you think we don’t do what we say? What can we do to keep this from happening? 

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.   … If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you (James 1:19,26-27 NLT).