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Have you ever been disappointed because someone didn’t keep a promise made to you? Broken promises can cause great harm to relationships. Another Present-Day Proverb is “Under promise and over deliver.”
Whether it’s in a business setting or in your family, making promises should be done with careful thought. Wise Solomon told us this many centuries ago: “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it” (Ecclesiastes 5:5).
And again he wrote in Proverbs: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
Promises generate hope, right? If I promise you that I will do something for you, you are hopeful, trusting that I will fulfill my promise. And if I don’t, that becomes “hope deferred” and it truly can make your heart sick. It can hurt because it feels like a betrayal or rejection.
Be careful what you promise. If you promise a customer to call him or her back in an hour, make sure you call back in that time period. Maybe that’s an unrealistic promise, so don’t say that just to get that customer off the phone or off your back. Only promise what you are confident you can deliver.
If we adopt this motto for our personal lives—“under promise and over deliver”—we will be establishing a reputation that brings glory to Jesus. It is part of living a life of great integrity, making sure we keep every promise, no matter how small, and going the extra mile anytime we can. It is living out the Golden Rule Jesus gave us—to treat others the way we want to be treated.
Don’t forget to under promise and over deliver. You’ll be glad you did.
[We have created Present-Day Proverbs cards as a helpful reminder. If you would like to download them click here or call (630-462-0552) us to receive them by mail.]