When we become servants of God, there are things in ourselves that we need to change. The old self should not be seen anymore especially the old self that is wicked because of the sins committed against God. We should walk according to righteousness, in truth and in holiness.
There are words that we should also change as part of the changes brought about by receiving the teachings of God. All words that we may speak upon should not be immediately said without thinking. We must be careful on what we will say so as not to hurt anyone when we speak. But more importantly, when it comes to the things that we solemnly promised to God, we should keep what we have already said to God.
A servant of God should keep his words and stand by his principles to keep them no matter what happens. Anything that we have said to God can be considered as a vow that we should keep. Anything that we have said can make us holy but it will also lead us to committing sin. Mat 5:37 Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one. What is meant here is the principle of doing whatever we have said before God. We should keep what we have already agreed to do before Him.
Why is it so important that we are seen keeping these principles?
In God’s eyes, not only the heart is important. God also watch the words that come out of our mouth. Why? Because the mouth is the gate of the heart. The mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. Whatever we say is coming from the heart, and everything we say will be measured by God. Mat 12:36-37 And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said. For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.
If we promised something to God, anything that we say we will do, we should keep it because God has no joy on those people who make promises but never do what they promised. Ecc 5:4 When you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken. It is better not to make an oath to God, than having one but will never do it at all.
Thus, before we make a promise or an oath to God, think carefully first because we may end up in regrets later. Pro 20:25 Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later. And as Jesus says, Anything more than that comes from the evil one.(Matthew 5:37b). This means, that we can commit a big sin against God if we made a vow but will not do it.
How and when must the servants of God show that they stand for their words?
When it comes to faith, servants should be strong and should stand for his faith and principles. His principles should be the principle of a man as mentioned by Apostle Paul. 1Co 16:13 Be on the watch, unmoved in the faith, and be strong like men.
A servant of God that has strong faith and standing by his principles is not easy to be moved. Whatever he experience in life, he remains strong and holding on to his faith. 1Co 15:58 For this cause, my dear brothers, be strong in purpose and unmoved, ever giving yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you are certain that your work is not without effect in the Lord.
And if temptations come, a servant is not easily tempted, or easily persuaded to do evil things. A servant knows how to control himself, because he needs to remain firm in his faith and will of God. A servant never looses himself to evil things and his goodness overcomes them. Rom 12:21 Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.
Not only the that a servant will agree to righteousness, but he always disagree on them and knows how to say “NO” to every temptations. Pro 1:10-15 My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way, do not go with them. If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause; Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death; Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be full of wealth; Take your chance with us, and we will all have one money-bag: My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways:
And if before he would love to take revenge and do something bad as an act of retaliation to those who have done him wrong, now he would love to control himself and turn away from things not according to God’s ways.
Pro 24:29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
Pro 20:22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
What are the words that will make our faith stronger, holding on to the doctrines and principles of God?
Paul says, for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. (1 Cor. 9:15) For Paul, the most important is the honor of receiving his right as a servant of God. Nothing else matters to him except being an Apostle of God. This is how he gave value and importance to the faith and teachings he received. Above all glory and honor, the honor of being a servant is the greatest for him because he knows that no one gave it to him except God. Heb 5:4 No one takes this honor for himself. Instead, God calls him as he called Aaron.
For Paul, his words and principles are more important than anything else. He is prepared to give his life as long as he does faithfully all his duties and responsibilities as an Apostle of the church of God. This is what God wants us to behave, to stand with our faith no matter happens, and this we do, through following what we have promised to do. We made our vows to God when we were baptized, that is, to do the will of God as long as we live. All the duties and responsibilities we have vowed to do should be kept. If we don’t keep them, then instead of doing godly things, this can turn out to be a curse coming from the Lord.
A servant of God should not be seen with doubts in his heart, especially when it comes to performing God’s will. Mat 21:28-30 “What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’ “His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went. “The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.
And we should not have reasons if by chance we missed the opportunity to do His will, because we have to understand that as a servant of God, our priority should be to do God’s will and commands and failure to do so, we can never be righteous in God’s eyes. Luk 9:59-62 He told another man, “Follow me!” But the man said, “Sir, first let me go to bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You must go everywhere and tell about the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I’ll follow you, sir, but first let me tell my family goodbye.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever starts to plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
To perform the oath made to God is to keep the vows to the Lord. He expects us to do this. Psa 116:18 -19 I will keep my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courtyards of the LORD’S house…
