“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?”
addition to our prayers, we come to worship with our sacrifices. The sacrifice of a fool is one who does so without meaning or intention, or giving without commitment. Commitment is to offer ourselves to be used by Him. It includes the giving of one’s tithes and offerings (or sheep and oxen), to seek repentance and forgiveness, and to make promises of obedience to God.
In this passage, worship is responding in obedience to the things that you say to God you are going to do. When you make a vow fulfill it, even if no one else does. We are to be obedient to what God wants of you and me.
We are cautioned not to make vows. Solomon is convicted, because he has now been cursed and his family is going to lose most of the kingdom. I King 11:11 “So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.” He failed to keep a vow when he promised God he would be faithful to Him and not worship any other gods, yet through lust, many wives, and adultery, due to wealth, prestige, and power, Solomon became an old fool and God judged him.
There are vows people make especially when they are faced with crises. They make solemn pledges to the Lord, as if we could bargain with God. We must never think that making a vow will merit God's favor.
I believe our nation has made a mockery of the marriage vows with such a flippant attitude toward divorce. I believe we are judged for weak Christian commitment that vows to trust and obey, and we make the things of this world more important than the things of God.
The problem with the lack of growth in the Christian’s life boils down to simply to two problems: A lack of faith or a lack of obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, obey my commandments.” If you want to understand the will of God for your life, the first thing is to be an obedience servant.
God doesn't want you live together before marriage or to marry people who are not Christians. If the Bible teaches tithing you will not get very far without fulfilling that promise. When Jesus teaches us to forgive others who trespass against us, He includes that with His mercy in forgiving us our sins.
Worship is not just receiving from God, but giving to God. We give Him ourselves through sacrifices and obedience as His loving servants and living to make Him glad.
Prayer: Lord, may Your love for me compel me to trust and obey You.
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