<\/p>\n
\u201cPut more trust in nobility of character than in an oath\u201d (Solon).<\/p>\n
ULTIMATELY, THE ONLY THING THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THEIR INTERACTION WITH US IS THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF OUR CHARACTER. There are times when our commitments will have to be backed up with oaths, vows, contracts, and collateral, but the bottom line is that if our inward character can\u2019t be trusted, these external things aren\u2019t enough to make people rest easy in their dealings with us. They\u2019ll know that if our commitment to them ever becomes inconvenient, we\u2019ll manage to find something in the fine print that will let us set aside our obligation to them.<\/p>\n
But speaking of contracts and so forth, people who are truly trustworthy don\u2019t mind signing such guarantees. Honorable people don\u2019t object to having their word bound by social and legal safeguards, and you should be leery of the fellow who acts offended when you ask him to back up his word with a contract. Indeed, even with promises we make to ourselves, it\u2019s often wise to strengthen private promises by placing them on record in some kind of public manner. It\u2019s not bad to have friends who can come and say, \u201cBut didn\u2019t you make a promise?\u201d<\/p>\n
But the question of commitments that we make to ourselves raises an important point. One of the things we need most in life is confidence in our own integrity and reliability. We need to be able to trust ourselves, knowing deep inside that we will do whatever we commit ourselves to do. If our past record is such that we ourselves don\u2019t have any confidence that we\u2019ll follow through, it\u2019s not realistic to expect that others will find us trustworthy. So the best thing we can do to be seen as trustworthy by our peers is to practice the daily discipline of making and keeping commitments to ourselves. It\u2019s a daily habit that pays huge dividends in the long run.<\/p>\n
Whatever discipline it takes to build trustworthiness, that\u2019s a discipline we need to adopt. There are few gifts we can give to others that will be any more appreciated. And trustworthiness is not just a gift; it\u2019s an obligation. We owe it to others to do as we say we\u2019ll do.<\/p>\n
I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
(Howard A. Wheeler)<\/p>\n
Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n