How important is it to you to keep your word? How often do you make a promise and then fail to keep it, or even remember that you made it? Too many people today think little of promises or of keeping their word.

I recently read an article by a Mr. Lewis B. Smedes entitled, “The Power of Promising." Among other things, he said, "When you make a promise, you tie yourself to other persons by the unseen fibers of loyalty." He further said, "All human community, from the ghetto to the global village, depends on the power of promising....Where people no longer have the inner daring to make serious promises or the grit to keep them, human community becomes a combat zone of competing self-maximizers."

Solomon said, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few " (Eccl. 5:2). Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment " (Matt. 12:36). Paul said, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another" (Eph. 4:25).

You may go back and ponder all of the previous quotes again. Two from an uninspired man and three from inspired sources. All emphasize the need for people to keep their word! And yet, more and more people make promises daily and never worry too much if they fail to keep them. Promises are made in business deals and then forgotten. We make promises when we are married and shortly forget them. We make personal promises and fail to keep them without feelings of guilt and without even a call to apologize when we are faced with the failure to keep our word. This has become a way of life with the world and it is becoming so with many who are God's children.

We excuse ourselves by saying that we are not under oath, or that we just forgot, or that we didn't think anyone took us seriously when we made the promise. But this does not change the facts—we promised and then failed to follow through. In a very real sense it could be said that we lied! All liars are going to be found in the lake of fire after the judgment day (Rev. 21:8).

Some promises are made in times of emotional highs and when the speaker is not thinking straight. Promises are made that we are incapable of carrying out. We need to stop making such and repent of those hasty promises and ask forgiveness of both God and the people involved. God is aware of our every promise and of our motive in making it and why we fail to keep it. We cannot hide from Him, so we must face the facts and stop making excuses!

Honesty is expected of God's people (Rom. 12:17) in word as well as deed. Idle words may not be sinful, but we will answer to God for them. We need to be careful with the promises we make during conversations with others. It is possible to forget what one promises. In such cases apologies and repentance are necessary, not just an effort to deny the promise by saying, "I can't remember making it." The use of one’s tongue is a serious matter and we need to recognize it. James warned of the misuse of the tongue in James 3:1-10.

So, let us learn to keep our word to our companion in marriage, to our children, to our parents, to those with whom we have business dealings, to those with whom we worship and even to those who might be classified as strangers and enemies. Saints of God should keep this in mind above all other considerations—this is necessary to please God! Let us try to BE RIGHT WITH GOD.