Make Commitments That Count
So often, we are judged not by the words we say but by the life we live. People watch more than they listen. As much as a parent, friend, or spouse could say the right thing, it doesn’t matter if the actions point to something else.
We all make verbal commitments. Some are as simple as scheduling lunch while others are as deep and meaningful as the vows spoken at a wedding ceremony. But either way, those words point to an action that will hopefully transpire in truth. What makes all the difference is not making the commitment, but following it through to the end. Sometimes, whether we realize it or not, our level of trust with another person is based on how accurately their words match their actions. We all hope to be trustworthy, and that trust is built through dependable commitments.
Unfortunately, because of our brokenness, our behavior will fail eventually. It is in our sinful and biological nature to fall short of our own values, to make commitments that don’t come true. The important thing is not to avoid commitments, but rather to realize what we can commit to and to recognize when we mess up. Just like we trust people whose words match their actions, we also trust people who apologize when they fall short. Integrity is found not only in the people who do what they say but the people brave enough to willingly admit their mistakes.
The lesson is this: don’t overpromise and underdeliver. Make reasonable commitments and exercise the self-discipline needed to follow through with them, even if it’s as small as showing up on the time you said. We owe it to others and ourselves to take our words as they are — not as loose cannons but as truth that transforms into action. We won’t do it perfectly, but we can aspire to do it with integrity. Make commitments that count.
