“Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” Mathew 5:37
When the Lord taught this lesson, people were regularly swearing by their heads or making some other absurd gesture to stress that they were being serious about a certain commitment. Jesus rebuked that behavior, teaching that people should be able to count on our word without having to make an oath.
One of the worst reputations that one can acquire is being an unreliable person. Being unreliable makes someone a bad employee, a bad co-worker, a bad employer, a bad neighbor, and a lousy friend. Whatever the relationship is, you can rest assured that it will be tarnished if one of the parties regularly goes back on his word. I have created a list of questions to help me decide if I should say yes to an invitation. Taking time to think through this list, has helped me to let my yes be yes and my no be no.
1. Is it prudent?
Will it help my God-mission?
Will it bless others?
Is it a good use of my time?
Will it bless me?
2. Is it possible?
Do I have the time?
Do I have the resources?
Do I have the capabilities?
3. What would it take for it to be possible?
Something on my schedule to open up
More resources to be available
More skills acquired
No
Remember it's ok to say no. While no is often used as a complete sentence, it may be helpful to recommend someone who could be a better fit for the situation.
By Mike Verdin