12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.
The trustworthiness of our words is the focus of today’s verse. Some have drawn from this passage that we should not take an oath when we testify in court. That can very well be a conclusion from this passage. But I think there is a greater application. People need to be able to trust our words. In a marriage, when our words turn into lies, the foundational fabric of the relationship falls apart. In our professional lives, our words are important. We could put all the lawyers in the world out of business in a day if we could all just be honest. There would be no disputes, because we would have the ability to express not only our words, but also the intent of our heart freely and openly. There would be clarity. Our “Yes” could be taken as not only the intent, but also in the follow through. We find so many ways to fudge our commitments. We have become masters of excuses. In the old days a verbal agreement was binding. Today we have to have a sea of lawyers involved in order to protect ourselves and others. Notice the consequence of ignoring this directive: condemnation. Not keeping our word has dire consequences. So, starting today, keep your commitments. Be straight forward with people. Don’t be brutal, but be honest. Let your “Yes” be yes. And don’t be afraid to say “No.” Better to say “No” now than be shown to be a liar when your actions say no.