Beloved Promises
“Above all, my brothers, do not swear–not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12 )
One of the most plaintive cries after the simple sound of tears is the cry “you promised!” And it is cried most effectively by young children. Older children know that things happen, situations change and fate intervenes. But the young who hear, use, and understand language take as ‘gospel’. When a promise is made they believe that is what will be. And when it is not, in their world, all is ruined.
The translations that is cited that the Anabaptists use has the word “beloved” for the word brother, and I like that better. “Beloved” are those whom we give promises to that we most desperately want to keep. And there is nothing that mars the relationship to a beloved than a broke promise. Not the plaintive cry of a child, but the heartfelt sob of a loved one when it is realized that the one they love have failed them. And if it is bad enough to break such a promise, worse would be to break a promise sworn on another item, object, or person of value.
Promises are like covenants entered into by two or more people who desire to do good for one another. To break a covenant and in doing so harm the relationship is a sad breach of trust. And to so misuse the sworn upon object is to double and triple the offense. What is left is a shattered relationship and delicate bonds that have been shredded and torn apart.
No wonder the writer of James says “you will be condemned”. Things happen, situations change, and fate intervenes. Do not compound the hurt by dragging into it other issues, people, and items. Promises will be made; it is part of our human nature to assure and comfort. Promise will be broken; it is part of our human nature to falter and fail. These are truths we must live by!
Above all, gentle readers, hold each other in gentle bonds of promise and assurance. Promise no more than you can do, and promise only with the honor of your spoken and written word. And if you are a person of honor and integrity, that will be enough. If you are not, any promise backed by anything you can name or imagine will be worthless anyway. Shalom, Carole
Whether a promise or an action of slight tongue, no one who empathizes calls for undue emotional pains on any person. When some one calls me a baby due to extraordinary pain, I am able to see the jaded soul that has eaten the sayer through. Perhaps empathy is a luxury of those who are selfless, or maybe it is a curse, on this world it most certainly is. Why would there be such ruthless people seeking to slowly turn a cork screw into onels heart? I do not know. This is the last mystery of life.
Mark McGrath
November 6, 2009 at 6:14 pm