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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Let your “yes” be yes”. Let your “yes” be yes” means we should learn to say what we mean and mean what we say. We shall focus our attention on the virtue of trustworthiness or integrity.

Dear friend in the Lord, James started his words in James 5:12 with the phrase “Above all,…” which means among all the things he had mentioned earlier, what he considered most important is what he is about to say or mention next. In other words, the recipients of his letter must pay critical attention and obey what he is about to write. James beseeched his Jewish Christians to pursue or take the virtue of trustworthiness, honesty or integrity seriously in their speech and dealings with all people as believers. “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned” (James 5:12). The God who has called us knows our hearts and intentions. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is our witness in everything we do since He lives in us therefore it is unnecessary to swear by heaven or earth or by anything else. Our speech must be trusted by others because of our consistency in being honest as children of God or disciples of Jesus Christ. We cannot be seen doing one thing and saying another. James learnt the importance of being trustworthy or upholding integrity from Jesus Christ. Jesus admonished his disciples and the crowd during His sermon on the Mount that “…, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:34-37). Beloved in the Lord, we are being called upon to be trustworthy or honest in our marriages, businesses, societies, churches and everywhere we find ourselves. Unfortunately, corruption, dishonesty and deception have engulfed our world so much that it has become difficult to boast of men and women of integrity or trustworthiness, especially in African politics and governance, and even many churches across Africa. We are experiencing hardship in the economy and deception in many churches in most African countries because the majority of Christians or people who claim to be religious in state and private institutions and the church are not trustworthy. Many are dishonest at their offices or workplaces yet on Sundays our church buildings are full to capacity. Dear friend, the world is counting on the disciples of Christ to bring back the culture of integrity, trustworthiness or honesty in every sphere of our lives. The world needs men and women of integrity to fight corruption, dishonesty and injustice. We must continue to be examples of trustworthiness, integrity or honesty by letting our “yes” be yes so that the world will know that we are the disciples of Jesus Christ and by this, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Shalom

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen us to live a life of integrity and trustworthiness to the glory of the Lord. May You also enable us to live a life worthy of our calling as people of the light and the truth everywhere we find ourselves. Amen.