Vows

“If you present a gift as a burnt offering to the Lord, whether it is to fulfill a vow or is voluntary offering, you will be accepted only if your offering is a male animal with no defects. It may be a bull, a ram, or a male goat. Do not present an animal with defects, because the Lord will not accept it on your behalf.” (Leviticus 22:18b-20 NLT)

The Lord has expectations and criteria when we make a vow to Him and to others.

Early in my life, even before I came to know the Lord, when I got in a jam I would “pray” “Oh Lord, I’ll do anything you ask, just get me out of this.”

One of those times was when we were tent camping as a family. We brought our 17’ ski boat with us, so we’d gone out on the lake when suddenly a driving rainstorm seemed to come out of nowhere. I was about 14 and wanted to be helpful, so I got the top and side covers installed to try to keep my parents as dry as possible, but in the process I got very wet.

Since I was already soaked to the bone, I volunteered to go back to the tent and get some dry clothes, thinking I would walk back, but as the rain seemed to get harder, I got the bright idea of taking the family car instead. This was the early 60’s when people left their keys in their cars, so I jumped in our car and headed to the tent.

With my rapid breathing, the heavy rain, and the cold car, the windows began to fog quickly making it almost impossible to see where I was going. I didn’t remember how to activate the defroster, so I just kept wiping the window with my hand, accomplishing almost nothing. As I prepared to turn down the lane where our tent was, I saw someone walking across in front of me, so, I cut the corner short to the lane on which I was turning and, in the process, heard a “clunk” on the passenger door. I’d failed to take into account the posts that lined the road.

This was the scenario that caused my first “Vow” to God: “Lord, if You’ll get me out of this I will NEVER DRIVE AGAIN!” I know, silly, right? But that’s how we are when we get in a jam. Unfortunately, that’s not the only time. Think of what we say when we get married. The promise to “love, honor and obey, ‘til death do us part!” Then we want out!

We might blame it on the “fact” we’ve fallen out of “love,” but God hears our vows differently. Fortunately, the Lord knew what I meant more than I did early in my life and has allowed me to drive for many years now, but He views our marriage vows and our vows to each other in different contexts very seriously. Tim Keller wrote: “Wedding Vows are not a declaration of present love but a mutually binding promise of future love.” 

Yes, of course, we make promises/vows to one another for many reasons, but what should be the clear implication? Our present love for the Lord binds us to keep our word because of our growing love for Him! What kind of witness is it of our love for the Lord if we promise someone something and don’t follow through? Or worse, we make a commitment to the Lord, but don’t follow through.

“Oh, He knows how I am. He’ll forgive me!” Yes, of course He will, but a part of us dies in the process. One sin makes the next sin easier, but one strict, deliberate, and intentional act of obedience makes the next obedience easier as well. When we commit our character’s formation to the Spirit, He will empower and enable us to live truth and speak believable words our hearers, especially the Lord, will come to expect us to keep. When we make a vow as a Jesus follower, we’ll keep it, especially to the Lord and to our spouse 😃.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊