keeping your word

ssammoh said:

Is it a sin to not do something after saying you were going to do it?

For example: if someone says they are never going to speak again, does that mean that they are no longer allowed to speak? if they decide to speak again at some point, does that mean they don't keep their word?

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That's a sort of hard example. Someone might loosely give their word like this, and not mean it. Some people do this, and then say "I was only joking!" .... That does happen a lot, sometimes a lot in church even, but that's not good to do. The more often a person does this, the easier it gets, and their conscience gets seared (compromised, hurt) each time. (they feel guilty)

YHWH (GOD) gives exceptions in HIS WORD
in some cases
when someone (a daughter or a wife) gives their word
that
allows them not to be held or bound to doing what they said.
This is clearly spelled out in the TORAH (BIBLE).

One shouldn't say they will do something they don't intend to do.

And circumstances can be beyond our control, which is why Scripture suggests we might say we will do such and such a thing if God wills it, instead of boasting as though we control our own futures.

But basically, yes, it is a form of lying to say you will do something you don't intend or even don't think you can do. There is surely a better way of saying according to the circumstance - I don't think I can, I'll try, maybe we will, etc.

I believe it will be a "sin" if it causes your conscience to convict you. It also "blasphemes" your own name (blasphemy meaning, to injure the fame/name) since not keeping your word tarnishes your reputation the more you do it.

There is a parable concerning two sons, neither or which did as they said they would/wouldn't do, but the one that was justified was the one that did the will of his father. Matthew 21:28-31

Clearly the ideal course of action would be to choose your words carefully, and make no promises: "swear not" as Jesus and James said: Matthew 5:34-36, James 5:12