Bible Reading: Num. 30-31. Mark: 9:30-50
“If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth” Numbers 30:2 (KJV)
A vow can be defined as ‘a word of commitment or a committed promise to another person to fulfil a certain action within a particular time’, The oxford dictionary defines it as ‘a solemn promise to perform some act’. God holds sacred our vows made to Him and holds us responsible for performance of such vows. The bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). So when we make a vow unto God, it is considered to have come out as a product of the heart.
In our dealings with God we are expected to be properly guided from making vague and unguarded utterances. As His children, God expects us to weigh what we commit with our mouth before uttering it. Breaking of vow made to God is a very serious breach that attracts very serious divine sanction. The bible says, “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shall not slack to pay it; for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be a sin in thee” Deuteronomy 23:21(KJV). It is better to keep quiet and not make any vow, than to commit yourself with your tongue before God and fail to perform. Not making a vow is not a sin. “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.” Deuteronomy 23:23 (KJV).
Let us drive it home, how many of us will make a commitment to the president of our country and not fulfil it? We will naturally do everything within our power to fulfil our promise to the president because of the power he wields, the enormous resources he controls and the instrument of coercion within his disposal. We respect the president for all these to ensure we meet our obligation towards him. Making a vow unto God and fulfilling it is a function of our level of reverence and awe to which we hold God. Not paying or standing by our vow is to undermine God. Most times we become careless in our dealing with God by being reckless in the way we commit ourselves to vowing before Him.
There are many type of vows individual makes before God. One of such is a wedding or marriage vow. Our wedding vows are unto God who instituted marriage. When you stand before the congregation and make solemn promises calling upon God as a witness, such vows are sacred. We must be properly guided on our wedding vows. Many have taken it for granted and quit their marriage with very flimsy excuses. To make a vow and not perform it the bible calls such person a fool. “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed” Ecclesiastes 5:4 (KJV). Our vow is holy unto the LORD and we must be careful how we handle things that are holy unto our God. “It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry” Proverbs 20:25(KJV). If there is any area where Christians have shown some recklessness it is in the issue of vow. Not meeting your vow before God is like breaking a covenant. We must begin to be properly guided to start correcting our ways. Not meeting your vowed obligation can result in unanswered prayers. “Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shall pay thy vows” Job 22:27 (KJV).
Prayer: Father, grant me the grace to always perform vow to you.
Brother Joel Ezeugo