DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- KEEPING OUR VOWS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PAYING OUR VOWS

"Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared." (Psalm 76:11)

A vow is a promise to do something. Perhaps the best illustration is the vow we make at the marriage altar when we make a pledge or vow to be faithful to our partner "til death do us part."

Vows are a serious thing. If we value our integrity, we will be sure to fulfill our vows or promises. Trust is dependent on our being faithful to our word. When we fail to keep our promises, our reputations are marred.

Our focus verse says to be sure to be faithful to keep our vows to God. It is easy to say, "I will serve You, O Lord, all of my life." But it is another thing to keep that vow.

Foxhole believers are common. "Lord, get me out of this problem, and I will follow you." Then when they get out of the trial, they forget their vow and go on their merry way. God does not forget our vows even while we forget them.

Wise King Solomon had sage advice when he wrote, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed --- Better not to vow than to vow and not pay it" (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Jepthah came to understand this truth. Remember that he vowed that if God gave him success in battle, that he would offer as a burnt offering the first thing that came out of the doors of his house to meet him when he returned home. As it turned out, the first thing that came to greet him was his daughter (Judges 11:29-40).

Making a vow to God should not be a flippant thing. We should be careful to be sure we will keep it. A proper approach might be, "Lord, with your help, I will do such and such."

With God's help, I will serve the Lord all the days of my life. That is a solemn vow.

Love, Dad