Giving your word that you will do something doesn't hold as much weight as it used to. It used to be that when you gave your word, you lived and died by it. The idea of backing out was not an option. Your word was indicative of who you were and what you were. Today when I hear someone promise that they are going to do something, I hate to say it, but I often find myself a little bit skeptical, that is unless I really know who it is that is doing the promising. The sad truth is that we live in a world that doesn't value one keeping their word, because things change, unforeseeable circumstances come up and we find that the easier way to do it is not what we said we would do, so somehow easiness trumps our word. We are raised in a world that says take what you can and make sure that you are looking out for yourself first and if it means going back on something that you say because it will be more convenient for you in the long run, then there is nothing wrong with that.

More than ever we see this happening. People are not willing to take responsibility for what they say. Our judicial system is overrun with cases dealing with people being sued by others for backing out on a promise given. I remember when I was in high school hearing about how Pepsi was being sued because in their commercials they were advertising that if you could earn a million Pepsi points you could purchase a Harrier Jet. Well the truth be told, that was not really an option but simply a marketing ploy to get your attention, so they had to alter the commercial and disclose that you could not really earn points for a Harrier Jet.

The Bible says something concerning giving our word and promising with oaths. In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus tells, let our yes be yes and our no be no. Plain and simple isn't it? In the first part of this passage Jesus reminds his audience that they had heard it said not to break your oath but to keep the oaths that you make to the Lord. What Jesus says instead is that we need to simply be people of our word. People that don't need to build a case for what we have said but be known for the plain and simple fact that our yes is yes and our no is no.

If we can stick to what we tell people, we don't have to swear by anything or promise up one side and down the other to try and convince others that we will do what we say we'll do. If you can put this into practice you will discover over time that people will respect you and your words will carry a weight that most peoples don't. People will see you as someone who values what you say and someone who speaks the truth. Ultimately Christ is saying always speak the truth.

Another benefit of letting this become a lifelong habit is we find that we don't need to cover our tracks and try to keep up with what we did say. Eventually the truth will come out and all the effort we go to, to cover our tracks is for naught. But simply letting what we say be what it is that we do we don't have to worry or stress over what was said and whether of not we can keep everything straight.

Final Thought: This week start to value your word, start to let people know that you will do what you say and that you can and will deliver on your word. Remember your word IS very valuable and that it IS a strong indicator to others as to what kind of person you are and whether or not you can be relied upon. And when you have gained the trust of others and they know that they can rely on you, you will see doors open and opportunities surface to share the truth of the gospel with them and see the lives of those around you changed.