Several potential Democratic presidential candidates met in New Mexico this week. Next year one person will emerge to go head to head with President Bush in the 2004 Presidential bid. The Democratic wannabes mostly lambasted Bush for promises they are certain he never intended to keep.
Sound familiar? Think of your own life. Do you know any people who make promises they do not keep?
Well, let’s see. There would be your parents, your spouse, your siblings, your neighbors, your teachers, your roommates, your office mates, your landlord, your boss, your pastor, your chapter president, your grandparents, and last but likely not least, you.
Speaking of you, have you ever experienced a moment of desperation where you made a promise to God, only to have that promise dissolve into thin air?
“Oh God,” you said, “If you get me through this mess I promise I’ll serve you forever and ever. I promise I’ll never get drunk again, never swear again, never look at pornography again, never linger over cheap romance novels again, never whine again, never gossip again, never cheat on a test again, never lie again, never lust again, never lead people on again and never, ever steal Twinkies again from the gas station next to campus. I’m not jesting, God. I’ll be a good boy. I promise. Please forgive me, and give me another chance.”
And do you know what? God does! That’s His nature. And you are grateful – so very grateful. God is forgiving; He is loving; He is kind and He is merciful.
Furthermore, He is incredibly jealous for your love. You think he doesn’t want to be first place? Forget it, friends. He’s crazy about you. Do you think for one moment that God will not give a failed promise-keeper another chance? In truth, there’s nothing he would rather do than forgive you and be with you.
In fact, after begging for another opportunity, you feel both forgiven and emboldened. God’s grace is salve to your soul. As a matter of act, you are a good boy for a while – maybe a week, a month or even an entire semester. But it isn’t long before you’re back doing what you did before –same old promise-keeping, same old “Oh God, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
You talk about a work in progress. A work in progress pretty much describes just about every human I have ever encountered.
In light of all this promise-keeping talk, I was pondering Luke 9:62 where Jesus told a man, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
The context involves two men, one who wanted to bury his father before engaging in proclaiming the kingdom of God, and another who said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” It was at that point Jesus said, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ statement is very strong. To make sense of it I think we have to try and figure out how the first-century hearers heard this. The plows of Jesus’ day were primitive. A handle at one end and a metal tip at the other end would break up the soil. The person behind the plow had to keep his eye on the field or his row would become crooked. Looking backward, he might do more damage than good. Keeping the plow straight required constant attention.
Jesus did not want double-minded promise-keepers, with one foot in service to the kingdom and one foot in the affairs of the world. No divided interest -- period. Those wanting to serve Jesus and simultaneously coddle up to the world are not fit for service in the kingdom of God.
Put a firm hand on the forward-moving plow, friends. That is, get your priorities straight now, or you may not last the distance. Said negatively, don’t go around making promises you do not intend to keep.
Finally, four reminders for any willing to grasp the plow and determined to go the distance:
1) Admit that when it comes to promise-keeping, you fall short. “Who can say, ‘I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin?’” Proverbs 20:9.
2) Always try and tell the truth when you commit to doing something. “It is better to be poor and honest than to be a fool and dishonest.” Proverbs 19:1##br#
3) Even when you say “yes” to something, remember “we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9
4) Do as Jesus did: say “yes” or “no.” Don’t swear on a stack of Bibles. Don’t say, “I swear to God I’ll follow through.” Don’t talk like that. When you start strengthening your promises with vows, as Jesus incisively said, you’re showing “that something is wrong.”
