Are we hiding behind a smoke screen?

TODAY’S PROVERB: Like vinegar to the teeth or smoke to the eyes, so is a slacker to those who send him. Proverbs 10:26, TLV

Dependability

Everyone wants it from others, but not everyone is willing to be consistently dependable themselves. We would think because we know how it feels to have someone let us down we would be more proficient at being dependable. However, such is not the case in too many situations.

Why is that?

Sometimes it’s just that we’re too busy. Our intentions are good. We say we’ll do the task, keep the appointment, be on time, but somehow other things get in the way. They cloud and complicate our day.

I think it’s human nature to give attention to the “louder” need. The only problem is that “loudness” can create a smoke screen to a broader issue — not living up to our commitments.

If we find this happens frequently — not all the time, but more than we like — maybe the issue is not those “louder” needs, but us.

How do we resolve this issue? If we’re late for an appointment, it’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t affect world peace. But, in our wisdom and faith journey it does have significance.

At some point we have to examine how we look at our priorities, yes, but it is really more than that. It’s about our word.

Keeping track of our commitments is probably the best way to begin. If we verbally/make a written commitment to something, then it’s our word, and our word has weight and responsibilities. Once we commit, write it down — on a list, a calendar, an app, all of them. Give that commitment weight and priority even if it’s just meeting someone for coffee.

Emergencies do come up. Once we know our commitment is in jeopardy, let the other person know. Somehow hearing the voice of the person we’ve made the commitment to can actually help us re-align our priorities. They certainly have to change their schedule to accommodate us. Just know, when this happens frequently our credibility can come into question. Yikes!

What we don’t want to do is allow our busy-ness to become a smoke screen to a bigger problem with us. Are we over-extending ourselves? Or maybe we give the wrong priorities to our commitments. Or we choose those commitments that will give us more. Or we have devalued our dependability out of our own convenience and desire.

Have we devalued our dependability out of our own convenience and desire?

ME

If our lives are such that we can’t make long-term commitments, it’s best to not do them. Sometimes seasons are just plain hectic and knowing that can remind us that future commitments will be possible, just not now. Let others stand in the gap — our Heavenly Father will provide others to fulfill obligations when we follow His will.

Seeing clearly our culpability and responsibility as we are “sent” to meet our obligations is a major step in our Wisdom’s Journey. A step we’ll all need to make — eventually.

May we honor our word, my friends.

Proverbs 10:26 Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs