Ecclesiastes 5

A few years ago, I went to see the musical Jersey Boys. It’s the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and it’s a pretty wild story! But nothing floored me more than the revelation that Frankie Valli and songwriter Bob Gaudio (who was, for a time, also one of the group’s singers) have maintained for more than 40 years a personal partnership contract sealed with a handshake.

Shortly after becoming part of the group and meeting Valli, Gaudio realized he had a special singing talent and proposed a partnership. For the rest of their lives, they would promise to share the profits from their musical ventures 50/50—whatever Valli made from his singing and whatever Gaudio made from his songwriting. When Valli agreed and Gaudio suggested they draw up a contract, Valli extended his hand and said, “This is my contract.” So they shook hands, and they are still partners to this day.

Wow! I was so impressed by that. Around that time, I entered into a partnership of my own, and I must tell you that by the time all the legal wrangling was over, my head was swimming. Call me naive, but my heart resonates more with the “handshake” sort of contract. I know there are a great many people in the world who aren’t this way, but as far as I’m concerned, when I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. And I’m not going to do it because I signed my name on a piece of paper. I’m going to do it because I said I would.

This is what God is like. He keeps His word. He doesn’t keep it because some court is going to enforce a document He signed. He keeps it because that’s the kind of person He is!

That’s why Solomon wrote, “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God… it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” (vs 2, 5) Oh, how life would be different if there were more people who kept their word, more people who valued their promise more than their signature.

God can be trusted to do what He says. He always keeps His word.

Do you?