In the Bible, we read in James 5 to let our “ yea be yea; and our nay, nay; lest we fall into condemnation”.  How wonderful it would be if we could all count on each other to do just that.  
How many people do you trust?  Are you trustworthy?  I’m thinking of all the legal documents we have these days...I’m thinking about all the lawsuits we have these days...I’m thinking of all the broken hearts, broken promises, broken deals and broken bargains.  I’m thinking of all the suffering that could be alleviated if we let our yeas be yeas and our nays be nays.  
In his book, Up From Slavery, Booker T. Washington wrote the following about an ex-slave from Virginia:
“I found that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.
Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there.  When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master, some 300 dollars.  Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia and placed the last dollar, with interest in his hands.
In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken.  He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.”
Wow.  WOW.  This man, although born into slavery, knew his worth!  And even more importantly, he knew that as a child of God, his word should be trustworthy.  He felt he could best enjoy his freedom knowing he had kept his word.  He knew he could not rest peacefully until he had kept his word to others.  I wish every man, woman and child felt the same today.  Don’t you?
We live in a world where giving our word and keeping our word is no big thing. Used to be men could “shake on it”.  This is certainly not the case any more.
We are mostly a self-absorbed, self satisfying lot.  Some of us have been taught to do and say anything to “get ahead”.  (Just what are we “getting ahead” in when we do this??)  
I believe God wants us to sleep in peace, with a good conscience...that is why he tells us to be truthful!
Be aware of the promises you have made in the past.  Be aware of the promises you make today.  Follow through.   Enjoy the respect of your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers.  And sleep well!