Subject:
Broken Promises
Dear Righteous Rapper:
My friend of 3 years made the "true love waits" promise with me and his cousin. He promised that he would never break that pact but when he started dating another friend of mine she started pressuring him to break it and he eventually did. He says it's ok because he didn't sign the card but in my heart I know it's not true. I want to talk to him about it but his girlfriend doesn't like me anymore so he refuses to talk to me. Did he really break a promise to God and how can I help him fix his relationship with God? He wont' even go to church anymore. Please help!!!
Signed,
---Wanting to help
Dear Cuz:
I often wonder if Timothy made the same decision in the Bible when Paul wrote to him:
"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
2 Timothy 2:22
We all want to do what's right when it comes to dealing with God. Especially when we're having a spiritual "high", from an event we attended, or a retreat or cool christian concert. But what about afterwards? What happens when you really intend on doing the right thing for God, like making a promise to Him, but break it or mess up?
What is a promise? The way some people use the term, a promise is nothing more than a good intention--easily discarded if it gets in the way. They see a promise as something that is made to be broken. But when God makes a promise, He's doing more than just expressing wishful thinking. He is giving His absolutely trustworthy word!
Your friend will have to deal with God about the promise he made. God is loving and forgiving, but at the same time, He also lets our free will reap the consequences that follow if we do not do what we promise. God takes promises seriously, because of the promise of eternal life to us through the sacrifice of His ONLY son.
Does that mean you're on God's dirty list if you break a promise? Certainly not! The promises of God are the heart of the Bible. Everything God has spoken, every announcement, every message, is really a promise based on God's perfect, good, and trustworthy character.
Your part is to pray for your friend. Be there when he discovers that what he is doing is NOT going to work out. When I mean be there for him, that means NOT with your your arms crossed with one of those "I told you so" looks.
Remember, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 reads: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Love In Christ
--The Righteous Rapper
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