“UNFULFILLED PROMISES”

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.”

Ecclesiastes 5:4

In one way or another, you probably have made a promise to someone but somehow, you weren’t able to fulfill it, hurting him in the process. That “someone” might have been God Himself. How does the Lord feel about unfulfilled promises?

What is a vow?

A vow (or a pledge) can be defined as a solemn promise or pledge that binds a person to perform in a certain manner. The concept appears 30 times in the Bible, with emphasis on the vow being final and binding. When a person gives a vow, it becomes a binding contract. It simply means that when we give our word to do something, we are obligated to do it.

Today’s verse talks about making resolutions (also known as vows) before God. The writer says that if one makes a promise, he is obligated to carry it through. It is a call to uphold one’s word as God is an all-seeing, all-powerful God who holds us accountable.

This verse mirrors what Moses wrote:

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.”

Deuteronomy 23:21

Consider the word “pay” (Hebrew word “shalam”), which means “to make amends” or “to be at peace.” The OT does not say that vows are required; however, when a man decides to make one and keeps his word, he would have the Lord’s approval.

When we make a promise to God, it becomes a debt that we need to pay or an obligation that we need to fulfill. Failure to do so would mean violating a solemn oath to a holy God who demands His people to live holy lives. Practically speaking, unless we fulfill our vow, we won’t be at peace with God (within the context of fulfilling vows), and our conscience serves as a witness to our shortcomings.

Moreover, the text informs us that God isn’t happy dealing with fools (Hebrew “kesiyl”), which means “stupid” or “silly.” It is inappropriate for a Christian to make a promise to God and change his mind later. Vows are binding, even when we speak of them foolishly or privately in our daily conversations. Keep in mind that the God who made our ears also hears our every word.

Our Christian walk doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, we make things complex because we say words we aren’t supposed to. So, to keep life simple, try to avoid making empty promises. Instead, live a life of faith and trust in God who delights in blessing those who rely on Him for all things.

Pursue the Savior today!

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