Tag Archive for: Matthew 5:37

Your Yes Still Matters

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Matthew 5:37 — But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

I was knee deep in mulch, sweating through my shirt, working under the blistering sun, wondering why I agreed to this in the first place?

But I already knew the answer.

A few days earlier, this had been a group project. My friend’s grandpa had asked several of us to help weed out the flowerbeds on his property before Easter. The property was large, and we were only a week away. But of course we said yes.

I mean, he was a local pastor, and we were seniors in high school with not much going on. We spent most of our time at his house anyway—eating his food, swimming in his pool, treating the place like it was our second home. Helping him felt like the right thing to do.

Then a last-minute trip to Six Flags came up, so my friends packed their bags and left town. And suddenly, it was just me and the weeds.

At some point, the screen door creaked open behind me, and the pastor stepped outside and handed me a glass of water. I followed him inside, where he leaned against the counter and said something I’ve never forgotten.

“You know, back in the day, people didn’t always have contracts,” he said. “Sometimes all you had was your word. That’s why they say you’re only as good as your word.”

Then he smiled. “Son, you didn’t have to finish that job. But you did what you said you would do. Jesus calls that letting your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’”

He reached out his hand to shake mine. I remember holding eye contact with him, feeling a sense of accomplishment and pride—not just because the weeds were gone, but because something deeper had taken root.

That moment taught me more than how to finish a job. It taught me what integrity looks like when it costs you something.

That lesson has stayed with me ever since. It has followed me into my work, my relationships, and my faith—reminding me that what says the most about you is how you treat your word.

Keeping your word matters long after the moment passes—especially when no one is clapping. There will be plenty of chances to take the easier exit, to explain things away, or to back out when it costs you something.

We don’t always break our word loudly—sometimes we slowly explain our way out of it.

Remember that integrity is built in those unnoticed moments, when your yes still means yes. While the world may never see those choices, God does, and character like that doesn’t fade with time. It lasts.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Can you think of a time when keeping your word cost you something? What did you learn from it?
  • Are there any commitments you’ve made recently that you’re tempted to back out of or justify your way around?
  • What does it look like in your daily life to let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”?
  • How do small, unseen decisions shape your character over time?
  • Where is God inviting you to choose integrity this week—even if no one else notices?
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The Courage To Follow Through

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“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” 

Matthew 5:37 

In radio, you learn quickly—if you make a promise, people will remember. 

I’ve spent years helping with fundraisers at stations across the country. It’s one of my favorite things—watching generosity ripple through a community, knowing that each dollar represents a life touched. When my friends in Minnesota invited me to help with their fundraiser, I was all in. 

We were live on-air, pushing to meet the station’s goal, doing everything we could to keep listeners engaged. And then, in a burst of enthusiasm, Andy Youso, Niki, and I made a bold pledge: if we hit our goal, we would jump into Lake Superior. 

We made a big deal out of it, laughing and daring people to make it happen. 

And they did. The goal was shattered.  

But…that’s where things got complicated. I had already left town by the time the challenge came due, which meant Andy and Niki braved the icy waters without me. I figured that was the end of it. Life moved on. We celebrated the win. 

But Andy? Andy did not move on. 

Any time my name came up, so did this unfinished business. “Lisa still hasn’t jumped in,” he’d remind me. Again and again and again. 

And the truth was? He was right. I had made a promise. I had said yes. And my yes needed to mean something. 

So I booked another flight to Minnesota. 

I stood on the edge of that freezing lake, feeling the wind bite through my jacket. I thought, Well, this is it. No backing out now. And then, I took a deep breath and jumped. 

And as the icy shock stole my breath, I couldn’t help but laugh. Because in that moment, it wasn’t just about a fundraiser or a bet—it was about integrity. About living out the kind of faith that does what it says. 

These days, people break commitments like they’re nothing. But what if we chose to be different? What if we decided that when we say we’ll do something, we actually do it? 

It might not always be easy, but that’s the kind of person I want to be. 

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