May 10
Let Your Words
Speak for You
“Most of all, my brothers and sisters, make sure you do not take an oath.
Do not make a promise by calling on heaven or earth or anything else to back it up.
Let your ‘Yes’ be yes. And let your ‘No’ be no.
If you don’t, you will be judged.”
James 5:12, NIrV
Becks fidgeted nervously in her office chair, watching her coworkers’ glances dart in her direction. At 23, she was still trying to make a name for herself in the company. But Becks had earned a troubling reputation for being unreliable. She often promised things she couldn’t deliver, thinking her enthusiasm would make up for her lack of follow-through.
One Monday morning, the office was in turmoil. Over the weekend, several expensive items had gone missing from the storage room. Mr. Hanson, the manager, gathered the team in the conference room.
“Someone was here late Friday,” he said, scanning the group. “If anyone has information about the missing items, now is the time to come forward.”
Becks froze as a coworker said, “Becks was here late on Friday, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, I stayed to finish a report,” Becks replied, her voice shaking.
“Did you take anything from the storage room?” Mr. Hanson asked, his tone calm but firm.
“No! I swear to God I didn’t!” Becks blurted out, desperation evident in her voice.
The room fell silent. Becks felt the weight of her words linger, and shame settled in her heart. Although she was innocent, she realized that invoking God’s name to prove it felt wrong. What if her words had caused others to doubt her sincerity even more?
That evening, she opened her Bible and came across James 5:12: “Make sure you do not take an oath... Let your ‘Yes’ be yes. And let your ‘No’ be no.” The verse struck a nerve. Becks realized she had been using promises and even swearing by God’s name to cover for a pattern of overpromising and underdelivering.
“Lord,” she prayed through tears, “I’ve been careless with my words and reckless in how I use Your name. Please forgive me and help me to live a life where I don’t need oaths or swearing to be trusted. Let my actions show my integrity.”
The next day, the missing items were found, misplaced in a storage shuffle. Becks was relieved, but the experience left a lasting impression. She began to rethink her words and actions, choosing to only commit to what she could deliver. Over time, her coworkers noticed the change. She didn’t need dramatic oaths or promises—her quiet, consistent integrity became her testimony.
Becks learned that swearing by God’s name is unnecessary—and wrong. God desires truth in our words and actions. Trust is built when our ‘yes’ and ‘no’ mean something without needing anything more.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for the truth in James 5:12 that reminds us not to swear by heaven or Your name.
Forgive us for the times we’ve used Your holy name carelessly or tried to justify ourselves with empty words.
Help us to be people of integrity, whose simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’ reflect our character and trust in You.
Teach us to be dependable and truthful in all we do, so our lives glorify You.
May we remember that Your name is holy and should only be used with reverence and love.
Transform us, Lord, into people whose actions speak louder than promises.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
