We take responsibility as people who are under authority. There is a firmness that is rooted in the humility of knowing that we are not our own. We have been bought with a price.
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." Matt 5:33-40 ESV
"But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation." James 5:12 ESV
There are religions and relationships that demand absolute loyalty. Companies that want oath after oath but it is a false sense of security and many times a recipe for failure.
God knows that grace works. He gives us grace and grace allows for a 'turn the other cheek' mentality.
Broken promises cause heartache for a reason. God doesn't break any of His. His commitments are selected on the basis of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. Society makes the moral man out to be a God able to keep his commitments. If our commitments become our gods than we will fall under condemnation.
At the same time we can and should be 'yes' and 'no' people. As people under gracious authority we need not hem and haw.
"Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:15-17 ESV
Does God have veto rights? Are there designated people in ours lives that we give an ear to that can express that also?
We can wedge our will into a problem like a crowbar hoping it is strong enough to pry the situation open or we can function by faith trusting that God answers prayer and will use an available vessel. One is striving and the other lives in rest.
As sent ones God has sent us into situations for a reason. We are dispatched as stewards and investors using Heavens currency. Let us be decisive investors saying 'Yes, I will forgive.' and 'I will go the extra mile'. We can be decisive believers affirming faith in Christ and no other and rejecting anything less than that.
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