There is a fable about a shepherd boy who cried “˜Wolf”™ repeatedly when there was no wolf. Eventually people did not believe his words of alarm. When the wolf did come, no one responded to his voice of panic.

Reputations are built on our words ““ whether we are telling the truth or if we “˜stretch”™ the truth, or if we just plain lie about what is true.

What do people believe about me? What do they believe about your words? Your reputation and mine to speak the truth are ours to build or destroy. No one else will be responsible for our reputations.

Jesus spoke to the crowds about oaths in making a promise:

(NASB) Matthew 5:33-34 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, “˜You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.”

34 But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 But let your statement be, “˜Yes, yes”™ or “No, no”™; anything beyond these is of evil.”

The dictionary definition of “˜oath”™ is: A formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge often calling upon God or some other sacred object as a witness.

When we make a promise (oath) and do not keep it ““ our reputation becomes suspect.

Your reputation and mine for telling the truth is revealed when others take our “˜yes”™ and our “˜no”™ as truth. There is nothing else needed for our words to be believed when we consistently tell the truth.

The Society of Friends (the Quakers) are known for their “˜Yes”™ and their “˜No”™, for their reputation is of sterling quality. Their reputation is such that a court of law will not require them to say anything else.

Your reputation is one you make

by your own words and actions.

Do you need to make some changes?