| “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it…” |
| —Ecclesiastes 5:4a |
Have you ever met someone who gave testimony regarding a vow they made to God? During my years at Houghton College [now Houghton University] in the mid-1960s, one of the professors gave his testimony in the daily chapel service:
The professor told how he was under fire during World War II. Around him, several of his fellow soldiers had already died from bullet wounds. He had never had much to do with God. But, in that tragic moment, when death seemed so near, he cried out to God and asked God to please save him. He promised that if God would save him, he would serve God for the rest of his life. God responded by protecting this man. And, true to his word, he spent the remainder of his life serving God.
While it may not be very wise to try to bargain with God, King Solomon would be very pleased with this professor. Please notice what Solomon wrote, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 5:4-7:
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Making a vow is a very serious business. It is something that we should most always refrain from doing causally and certainly never take lightly. But, if an occasion prompts us to make such a vow, we should heed Solomon’s words and determine to fulfill the vow we have made. Keeping our word is important, not only with God, but with each other. Don’t say that you will do something, when you do not really intend to do it. And, don’t allow excuses to interfere with a vow that you have made.
In our walk with God through His Son, Jesus, we do well to speak truthfully about everything, including the truth implied in a vow we might make. Let’s become people whose “yes” always means “yes” (Matthew 5:33-37).
