Remember When Someone's Word Actually Meant Something?

I remember watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie when Pa needed to buy some supplies. Unfortunately, he had no money. So he shook hands with the food owner and said that he had his word on it when it came to paying him back, and the man honored it. My how things have changed. There was a time when a person's word meant everything. There was no need of collateral or signing multiple pages of contracts. A person's word was their guarantee, as good as gold. But nowadays we find example after example of people who couldn't be farther from this principle. Their word means nothing. They don't care about what they said, and usually have an excuse to justify what they said in the first place. Psalm 15:4 talks about people who, "...keep their promises, no matter what the cost." Can you imagine how differently culture would be if people put this principle into practice? I know I'm not perfect at this, but I am growing in it. It's a goal of mine to do what I said I'd do, regardless of the cost to me. If I say I'll do something I want others to know that they can count on my word. It doesn't take too many times for a person to break his word for others to begin to question the things they say next. My challenge is to be a man who keeps his word. Will take up the challenge with me?