- When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. -
Words are trash. That’s why everybody asks for it in writing. We know we’re being lied to, so why not get the gotcha points later?
Are the words trash because the person knows they’re lying? Most of the time, no. They’re scared, want it to be true, or are just rolling the dice, hoping they get double sixes instead of snake eyes.
We all know what that feels like. We all know it’s better to only say what we know. Nothing more; nothing less.
Back in the day, paper was a big deal. It was hard to make and therefore expensive.
That meant your word was a bond. What you spoke, that was your agreement.
Man, for better or for worse, has been making deals with God since the fall. “Lord, I promise to serve you, but I want a Corvette.”
“Jesus I’ll go on this mission trip, but I need you to send a husband my way who fears you.”
We’ve all been guilty of this thinking, either in weakness or immaturity, but I can promise you one thing, God doesn’t care about what you do.
Everything we do is like filthy rags. If you want to understand that idea more thoroughly, I encourage you to look at the Hebrew behind that verse.
Deal or not, if we vow to God we are bound by our word. He doesn’t take that lightly. Don’t believe me? Go read Judges.
So, what are we to do? We pay it. That’s a terrifying proposition. What you vow to God, He demands you pay.
Why? Because He holds you to account for the words you speak, just as He holds Himself.
Think that’s just O.T. God? Nah, Jesus says you have to pay for every careless word you speak. Even happy, nice God holds you to this standard.
He has no pleasure in those who would make a vow carelessly. If He hears you make an insane vow, He looks you directly in the face and says, “Well, pay it then.”
You have every right to think that’s too much to ask; it is, like many standards God holds us to.
You might think its unjust of God to hold us to the careless or shortsighted vows we make.
It’s justice by our own hand. Whatever condemnation we heap upon ourselves by our own mouth, that’s on us.
God holds us to our word.
You might think there’s no mercy in a God who would approach His creation in this manner.
The cross is.
In the cross is the forgiveness for your careless deeds that you cannot nor should act out.
In the cross you can say, “Lord I’ve spoken casually and made a ridiculous vow to you, one we both know I was a fool to make. Forgive me for my sin and pledging myself to a dishonorable action.”
In God, we find all the justice and freedom we need to be children of the King.
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