Do not make careless promises. The Bible tells us that in our planning we should say, “If the Lord will”; that is, we should take in to consideration that the unexpected may happen. We do not know the future; therefore we ought not to make our promises too positive. We ought to qualify them so as to allow for hindrances. We ought to be honest in making our promises. Many promises are made when there is no intention of carrying them out. Many people, rather than to say no, will promise and then refuse to perform, thereby making themselves liars. They have not manhood enough to refuse and honestly tell why, so they make a promise and break it. That is the coward’s way out. It is the dishonest way out. Some people say, “If the Lord wills, I will do so,” when they do not consider the Lord in the matter at all, but simply mean, “If I do not change my mind.” Do not throw the odium on the Lord. If you think you may change your mind, do not commit yourself definitely. If you are not fully decided, do not be afraid to say that you do not know what you will do. Be honest enough to let the other know the state of your mind. Be honest in making promises; be honest in fulfilling them. Fidelity to Promises. Do not make too many promises. He who is too free to promise, places little value upon his promises. He forgets them readily or lets some trifle hinder the performance of them. He always has a ready excuse to ease his conscience and to release himself from the obligation. This indicates a want of character, a lack of real sincerity. When you make a promise, do not forget it, do not break it. Never disappoint people when you can help it. They feel disappointment as keenly as you do. There is an old saying that “promises are like pie-crust—made to be broken.” Are your promises of the pie-crust variety? Possibly you have heard the story of the old deacon. A man came to him one day to endeavor to get him to fulfil a promise that he had made. The deacon refused. The other urged and entreated him, but still he refused, and finally said, “The Bible says that we should let our words be yea, yea, and nay, nay; and my words are so.” “Yes,” quickly retorted the other, “when you are asked to make a promise, they are yea, yea; but when you are asked to fulfil it, they are nay, nay.” This is one brand of yea-and-nay Christians, but not the kind in whom God delights or man trusts.