A man bought a parrot at an auction after some heavy bidding. “I hope this bird talks,” he told the auctioneer.

“Talk?” the auctioneer replied, “Who do you think has been bidding against you for the past ten minutes?”

Sad to say we seem to be living in a day when a person’s word has less and less value. Once upon a time a man’s word was his bond. Not any more I’m afraid. For far too many their word doesn’t mean a thing. We’ve become pretty adept at parroting what we think people want to hear.

I remember one of my college professors teaching us that a person’s character (among other things) could be measured by what value he or she puts on his/her word. People who don’t keep their word have a character issue and cannot be trusted.

Fortunately, however, of one thing we can be certain, God always keeps his word and always keeps his promises. To be Christ-like we need to do the same! For after all, it’s what we do, not what we say, that says the most of all.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please make me a man/woman of my word so I can always be trusted to say what I mean, mean what I say, and do what I say I will do. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 14:23 (NIV).