Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
A believer should be very careful about making promises, especially to God.
The Bible says it's better not to make any promises, than to make them and
not keep them. We live in a nation of liars in America.
Our music is filled with lies, singing about being true to one another forever; but such loyalty and commitment are rare these days. The marriage vows have deteriorated into a mere formality, where people don't really mean what they promise anymore. People aren't willing to live in poverty, sickness and “for worse” these days, especially women; they want it all!
Ashley Tisdale is a little brat, who has taught millions of America's teenage girls to “want it all” through her selfish song, you guessed it, “I Want It All.” Women have become entitlement princesses, and think every moment is about them, and it better be “fun.” Women today have no idea how well they had it until feminism destroyed marriage. The new way is cohabitation with partner change every 2-5 years. American women have been seduced by feminism's “need for perfection.” For decades, modern media have taught women about “relationships.” In their own minds, they find that their reality doesn’t quite measure up.
If such women cared about what God thinks, and would SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES as Jesus commanded in John 5:39; then they would not be so selfish, and would exemplify Christ by staying the course. Biblical love, i.e., God's love, is unconditional. God loves you because of Who He is; not because of who you are. Likewise, a person ought to love their spouse based upon an unconditional love. You ought to love your spouse because of who you are; not because of who or what they are, or have become. Love never faileth (1st Corinthians 13:8). If you “used to love” your spouse, it's only because you never knew what love is in the first place. True love is unconditional. There's nothing anyone can do to me to take away the unconditional love of God, which the Holy Spirit hath shed abroad in my heart as a born-again Christian (Romans 5:5).
Be careful about making promises. If you're going to make promises, then make them to yourself; so you won't be a liar in the eyes of others when you let them down. A Christian ought to say what they mean, and mean what they say. That is exactly what Jesus said about Himself in John 14:2, “In my Father's house are many mansions: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I go to prepare a place for you.” Amen! Based upon this Scripture alone, we know that the Biblical account Jesus gave in Luke 16:19-31 concerning the rich man and Lazarus is 100% literal and true. If Hell is not a literal place of fire, torment and damnation; then Jesus misrepresented the truth. John 14:2 plainly teaches us that Jesus said what He meant, and meant what He said. Hell is a literal place burning with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8).
It's best not to make too many promises to people, nor to God, because God takes the matter of making a vow seriously. God honors a person who refrains from making promises, because they want to be honest and maintain their integrity. God is ok with that according to Ecclesiastes 5:4-5. In Acts 5:4 we find evidence to support this, “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?” The Apostle Peter told Ananias that he and his wife could have done whatever they wanted with their land, or the sale thereof; but they had broken a promise to God, and it cost them their lives (Acts 5:5,10).
Breaking a vow is a serious matter to God. This is why I preach so fervently against the sin of divorce. There are NO Biblical grounds for divorce, none. You made a promise on your wedding day, with no disclaimer, to remain with your spouse “'til death do us part.”
We live in a society of liars, thieves and hypocrites; because yesterday's public school children and now adults, who believe they evolved from gorillas, only care about themselves, and have no sense of moral direction. God expects us to keep our promises. One's name is only as good as their word. In fact, this is why Psalm 138:2 says that God's Word is elevated above His holy name, because even with God, His name is only as good as His faithfulness to keep His promises. That's what the beautiful rainbow in the sky reminds us of, God faithfulness to keep His promises. God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God. And what a wonderful God He is!!!
That's why I KNOW that I am going to Heaven, because God promised to give eternal life to WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:13). Acts 10:43 and John 20:31 promise eternal life and forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes on Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. What an awesome God and Savior!!!
Acts 10:43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”
