One of the hallmarks of a Christian should be the ability to make good what we have said or promised regardless of the price it takes. We are to honour our word.2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a “new creation”; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
There is a big difference between the “old man” and the “new creation”. The “old man” is a slave to sin with no way of breaking free. He has a heart of stone and is rebellious in his ways. Belonging to the kingdom of darkness, the father of lies has a major influence on the “old man” causing him to lie and twist words when it works in his favour.
The devil started to lie in the Garden of Eden, and his nature has not changed. When we are slaves to sin, there are things that we know are right but struggle to do because sin and selfishness live in us.
However, the born-again experience has given us a new heart—a heart of flesh with God’s nature in it. As such, we are partakers of God’s nature of being just, holy, and righteous in all that we do. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit in our spirit being to live differently from the inside out. We can act and speak in a righteous and holy manner, honour our words, and make good what we have promised. We are also able to yield to and obey the promptings and leading of the Holy Spirit to do what is right. We will be clear with people regarding what we can or cannot deliver—we will not over-promise and under-deliver. We will be known for being honest.
Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If we are convinced that God will never leave us nor forsake us, we will be contented and confident that He will provide for us even if we are to lose a business deal by being honest and upfront. We will not yield to covetousness by not standing by our principles and values. Neither will we produce substandard products for our clients because we will lose the trust and confidence from them, and we will end up losing if our integrity or the quality of our products are called into question.
Sermon Series: It Is More Precious Than Gold
信守诺言惟因新造
基督徒的特征之一应该是，能够不计代价地兑现自己说过的话或作出的承诺。我们要信守诺言。
哥林多后书5:17 若有人在基督里，他就是“新造的人”，旧事已过，都变成新的了。
彼得后书1:4 因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。
“旧人”和“新人”是迥然不同的两种人。“旧人”是罪的奴隶，无法挣脱。心硬如石，行事悖逆。属于黑暗的国度，谎言之父对“旧人”有重要影响，使他撒谎，巧舌如簧。
魔鬼在伊甸园里就开始了撒谎，他的本性没有改变。当我们被罪所奴役时，有些事我们明明知道是对的，待要去做时却几番挣扎，那是因为罪性与自私仍然活在我们里面。
然而，重生的经历给了我们一颗新的心，一颗有着上帝本性的肉心。因此，我们在所做的一切事情上都有神的本性，就是公正，圣洁与公义。我们蒙圣灵赐予属天的力量，由内而外地活出与众不同的生命。我们能够以公义和圣洁的方式行事和说话，遵守我们的承诺，兑现我们所应许的。我们也能顺服圣灵的指示和引导去做正确的事。我们能够清楚地让人明白哪些是我们做得到的，哪些是做不到的，我们既不会言过其实，也不会敷衍塞责。我们将因诚实而著称。
希伯来书13:5 你们存心不可贪爱钱财，要以自己所有的为足；因为主曾说：「我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。
如果我们确信上帝永远不会离开我们，也不会抛弃我们，那么即使我们因诚实和坦率而亏了一单生意，我们也会感到知足并笃定祂将供应我们。我们不会牺牲原则和价值观去屈从于贪欲。我们也不会将不合格的产品交给客户，因为这将使我们失去客户的信任和信心，如果我们的诚信或产品质量受到质疑，最终吃亏的将会是我们自己。
讲章系列: 比黄金更宝贵