Our Word is Really our Bond

Our decisions and our promises define us. Our word is really our bond. The strength of our word reflects the confidence we possess in our own integrity; integrity can be defined as our internal strength of character to honour our promises and commitments. If a person does not honour their word or commitments, they really have nothing. Life is about relationships; with God, ourselves and our neighbour. Relationships are based on commitment. All of life operates on the trust of keeping our promises and commitments. Honouring what we say we will do. Family bonds, business relations, marriage, friendship, partnerships, co-operations, teams, organisations are all based on the trust of commitments between people.   We are all restrained by the pull of the past, by our fear of the future, by our old habits, by our moods, emotions and circumstances. We can break the past by making a decision and acting on a commitment. When Christ said to the apostles “Come follow me”, they made an instant decision and followed the Lord from that moment. We become what we are committed to in life. It is this moment of decision that, we either choose to live according to our own purpose or God’s will. Many people make no commitments in life and drift from crisis to crises, fad to fashion, from addiction to pity. Their lives float aimlessly. Others only make half hearted commitments. These commitments are doomed because the first sign of trouble and they crumble. These commitments are stop and go, one day all fired up the next day crawling on the floor. It leads to stress, frustration, weakness, fatigue and mediocrity.  To grow in faith is the commitment to grow in faith. Growing in strong faith is based on clear identity and purpose, on who you are and what is the meaning of your life. Deep faith builds strong disciplined and focused character that will not be uprooted by moods and circumstances. Deep faith simplifies life; it separates what’s important from the unimportant. It solves one of lives great questions. It decides what you do and what you don’t do. With deep faith we know what we stand for and what we don’t stand for. Our faith gives us clear identify and purpose, a strong and firm ground upon which to decide actions, priorities, time and resources. Many people are totally committed individuals but still end up unfulfilled because they become committed to things or the world like money, work or the pursuit of success. The commitment to the pursuit of things of the world always ends in failure and disappointment because we die. We take nothing to eternity except our immortal souls. Commitment boils down to two choices; commitment to this world or commitment to eternity.