Title: Vows Are Weighty
Memorize: 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. Ecclesiastes 5:4 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (Nkjv)
[1] Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
[2] Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
[3] For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
[4] 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—
[5] Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
[6] Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
[7] For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Message:
When God says He will do a thing, He will definitely do it because He does not joke with His words.
The same is expected of us, His children, particularly when we make vows.
Today, many Christians are stagnant in life because they failed to fulfill the vows they made to God in the past.
In Judges 11 & 12, we read about Jephthah, whom the lsraelites begged to help them in their fight against the Ammonites.
He knew the Ammonites were strong, and they needed a stronger ally to be able to confront them.
Therefore, he sought God’s help and vowed that if he won the battle, he would sacrifice unto God the first thing that came out of his house to meet him.
He won the battle, and on getting home, unfortunately, it was his only child who came out of his house first to welcome him.
One of the lessons I learned from Jephthah’s story is to check the state of my heart while making a vow to God.
If my heart is aligned with God, I will make vows based on what He wants me to do, which will eventually bring me His reward and not regrets.
My dear child, do not be too hasty when making vows to people or God.
Action Point:
Be careful when making vows.
HYMN : WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN in JESUS
1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there
Bible In One Year: 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21 Romans 11:13-36
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye