14 THEN the men of Israel took some of their [the inhabitants of Gibeon's] provisions; BUT THEY DID NOT ASK COUNSEL OF [did not inquire at the mouth of] THE LORD.
15 SO JOSHUA MADE PEACE WITH THEM, AND MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM TO LET THEM LIVE; AND THE RULERS OF THE CONGREGATION SWORE TO THEM.
16 AND it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them."
Joshua 9:14-16 (NKJV)
• Consider carefully before you give your word, or give a support to whatever is brought before you.
- When you pray before taking any major step, or before a decision is made, you will avoid pitfalls in your Christian journey and Ministry work.
- Joshua and other Israelite leaders signed an agreement with the inhabitants of Gibeon and ratified the agreement with an oath, without knowing the mind of God on it (Joshua 9:14,15).
- Do not be in the haste to make decisions, especially the major ones.
YOU ask the people to give you time to pray and ponder on the matter they have brought before you. - When you cultivate the habit of taking whatever you wanted to do to God in Prayer, in order to know His mind; you will save yourself from any major pitfall and heartache that usually be the outcome of the wrong and foolish decisions.
- Any wrong decision you made today could affect the future of your children, even the unborn generations.
- One of the signs of maturity is NOT to give replies or answers to whatever is brought to you instantly (Proverbs 18:12).
- A Believer who acknowledges God would not be rash in answering a matter before the mind of God is known on it (Proverbs 18:13).
- A Wise person does not talk hastily and rashly. Take your time to think or ponder on whatever the matter is, pray and ask God's Will or counsel on it, before your word is given or a decision is made.
- A man or woman of integrity would not talk without thinking about the implications of whatever word to be said.
• Besides, God does not want you to ratify any promise made with an oath:
"BUT above all, my brethren, DO NOT SWEAR, EITHER BY HEAVEN OR BY EARTH OR WITH ANY OTHER OATH. BUT let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” LEST YOU FALL INTO JUDGMENT" (James 5:12 NKJV).
READ: Matthew 5:33-37
- You will be held responsible for your words:
36 BUT I say to you that for EVERY IDLE WORD men may speak, THEY WILL GIVE ACCOUNT OF IT in the day of judgment.
37 FOR BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE JUSTIFIED, AND BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED" (Matthew 12:36,37 NKJV). - If you are an extrovert, a born talker, ask God in prayer to always give you what to say, or teach you how to answer, whoever comes with any matter; that you will not be making rash decisions.
- Even a fool would be considered Wise If he does not talk much:
"EVEN A FOOL IS COUNTED WISE WHEN HE HOLDS HIS PEACE; When he shuts his lips, HE IS CONSIDERED PERCEPTIVE" (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV). - If you wanted to see good in life:
"FOR “HE who would LOVE LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, LET HIM REFRAIN HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL, AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT" (1 Peter 3:10 NKJV).
READ: James 1:26; 3:2 - Whatever you do not intend to do, do NOT promise to do it or give your word on it:
"THEREFORE, PUTTING AWAY LYING, “LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR,” FOR we are members of one ANOTHER" (Ephesians 4:25 NKJV).
READ: Colossians 3:9; James 1:26 - Some would say they wanted to be diplomatic and promised to do what they did not mean to do (Colossians 3:9).
THEY wanted to use cajoling or gimmickry to have their Way, that what they wanted to have might become accomplished.
• When you make a Promise that you cannot keep, and refused to retract your words before the time which you did promise to do the said thing, you have lost your integrity.
- Trust is built over a period of time and it deepens or strengthens a relationship after it may have been built. This happens when the person or people who are concerned have watched and discovered your truthfulness and integrity.
- Thus, in any instance that you have rashly promised to do anything, you will do well to retract your words before your image or reputation is dented:
1 "My son, if you become surety [guarantee] for your friend, If you have shaken [struck] hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 YOU ARE SNARED BY THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH; YOU ARE TAKEN BY THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH.
3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: GO AND HUMBLE YOURSELF; PLEAD WITH YOUR FRIEND [that you want to have your name erased or retract the oath you have made]" (Proverbs 6:1-3 NKJV).
• NOTE:
(i) Do not talk before you think. Think twice before you say or do anything rashly: "So then, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, slow to wrath" (James 1:19 NKJV).
(ii) Let your word be few:
"IN THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS Sin IS NOT LACKING, BUT HE [she] WHO RESTRAINS HIS [her] LIPS IS WISE" (Proverbs 10:19 NKJV).
(iii) What you cannot do, do not promise that you will do it. Pray before you give your word (Proverbs 6:1,2).
(iv) If you give your word on any matter, endeavour to work at it and make good of whatever you had said to be done:
4 ‘Or if a person SWEARS, SPEAKING THOUGHTLESSLY WITH HIS LIPS to do evil or to do good, WHATEVER IT IS THAT A MAN MAY PRONOUNCE BY AN OATH, and he is unaware of it—WHEN HE [she] REALIZES IT, THEN HE [she] SHALL BE GUILTY IN ANY OF THESE MATTERS" (Leviticus 5:4 NKJV)
READ: Psalm 15:4
(v) Be sensitive to God's leadings all the time, let God be part of whatever you Plan to do daily—carry God along in all your endeavour (Romans 8:14).
(vi) Respect the feelings and opinions of other people, do not be callous and self centered, when a decision is being made:
3 LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 LET EACH OF YOU LOOK OUT NOT ONLY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS" (Philippians 2:3,4 NKJV).
(vii) You will be rated based on your commitment to whatever you have said. In other words, the efforts you made, to do that which you said or promised, determines your credibility (2 Corinthians 1:18).
(viii) If your words cannot be taken as you have said it, it does mean your words lack credibility and you are not a person of integrity.
• Someone who think less and talk much would be considered a fool (Proverbs 17:28).
- Some have put themselves in problems because of their inabilities to control their mouths, they talk too much:
"HE [she] WHO GUARDS HIS [her] MOUTH PRESERVES HIS [her] LIFE, BUT HE [she] who OPENS WIDE HIS [her] LIPS SHALL HAVE DESTRUCTION" (Proverbs 13:3 NKJV).
READ: James 1:19; 3:2; Proverbs 10:19 - To avoid mistakes and rash decisions, give thoughts to whatever you wanted to say before you say it (Proverbs 21:23).
ALSO, Pray more and talk less!
• What you do not intend to do, or that which you do not have the ability to do, should not be promised to be done by you.
(i) Check in your heart and ask the Holy Spirit on the inside of you before you make any promise (Proverbs 12:19).
(ii) Think and dialogue with God before you make a decision on every important matter.
(iii) Allow God to be part or be involved in every important matter of your life, even on some issues that you may think are less important.
• It is my prayer that you will not be a victim of evil in Jesus' name.
Peace!