Look before you leap!

"Don't make rash promises." Ecc 5:2 NLTWhen it comes to making commitments and keepingthem, Solomon doesn't mince any of his words: "Don'tshoot off your mouth, or speak before you think...When you tell God you'll do something, do it-nowGod takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, thendo it. Far better not to vow in the first place than tovow and not pay up. Don't let your mouth make a totalsinner of you. When called to account, you won't getby with 'Sorry, I didn't mean it'" (VV. 2, 4-6 MSG). Thatmeans don't be impulsive, listen as much as youspeak, get as much information as you can, thenconsult God in prayer before you make a commitmentPeople often say what they think others want to hear,but that can get them into a lot of trouble. Don'tpromise something you can't deliver. And don't makeexcuses. Nothing diminishes your influence like tryingto reverse a mistake with a lame excuse. When voumake a commitment based on emotion, you will onlyfollow through if you feel a certain way. Truecommitment doesn't work like that. It's not a feeling;it's a character quality. Human emotions constantlyfluctuate, but commitment has to be rock solid. Realdedication shines through in times of trouble andadversity. It doesn't depend on gifts or abilities, but onintegrity. It's a result of choice, not conditions. And itonly lasts when it's based on values. Bottom line: "Donot be rash with your mouth, and let not your heartutter anything hastily before God" (v. 2 NKJV). So lookbefore you leap, and think before you commit.Don't promise something you can't deliver.Send us Fan MailSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!