Biblical Reflections · Christian Life

Making promises lightly?

4 min read, approximately

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

Dilemma

A foolish person is someone who shows poor judgment in their actions. Exactly: an immature person.
Most of us tend to approach God when we are facing problems, when we cannot take any more, when we find ourselves at the bottom of the pit of despair and see no way out. Yet many of us use phrases like these in God’s presence: “Lord, if you help me with this, I will do this”, “Lord, if you get me out of this situation, I promise you this”, “Lord, if you give me a job, I assure you that I will do this”…Can we remember any others?

All of this is an attempt to make an exchange. Well, if God fulfills his part, he expects you and me to be mature enough to fulfill ours. Promises made lightly?

Unfulfilled promises only add problem upon problem

Many of us have certainly experienced owing money to a bank, whether through credit cards, student loans, mortgages, or some other kind of loan. Whatever agreement we have made, if we fail to honor it, things will certainly not go well for us. They will make our lives difficult until we fulfill everything we committed to.
God is no exception, which is why the Word says:

“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4)

Is it worth making vows lightly? Definitely not.

We have the ability to think before we speak

The Word teaches us that

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

So… why do you and I have the mind of Christ?

“Look carefully, then, at how you walk, not as fools but as wise people… Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15,17)

We have the ability to think, analyze, weigh the consequences, and, if we can follow through, then speak!

Jephthah

Did you know?

“…Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, saying: If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return victorious from the Ammonites will belong to the Lord, and I will offer them as a burnt offering. Jephthah went toward the Ammonites to fight them, and the Lord delivered them into his hand.” (Judges 11:30-32)

“And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back.” (Judges 11:34-35)

Please,

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:6)

Do we make promises lightly? What do you think?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!