OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL-FRIDAY-08/07/2016-FOOLISHNESS IN VOW TAKING-BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
Memorise
Better
is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Ecclesiastes 5:5
Read
Psalms 15:1-4,
1Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in
thy holy hill?
2 He
that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in
his heart.
3 He
that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor
taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In
whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt,
and changeth not.
KJV
MESSAGE
There will be both pleasant and unpleasant
surprises in Heaven. The reason being that many who we think will not make it
to Heaven will make it in, just like the robber on the right hand of the Cross
of Jesus Christ did. The Bible says;
“But if the wicked
turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live
thereby.”
Ezekiel 33:19
The lawful thing for the wicked to do is to
repent, as God is more than willing to forgive and to cleanse him from all
unrighteousness (1st John 1:7-9). However, the Bible equally says:
“When the righteous
turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die
thereby.”
Ezekiel 33:18
One deadly habit of some 21st
century Christians is making a vow and not fulfilling it. This is foolishness
of the highest order. The Bible warns us against making vows and not fulfilling
them. One of such cases is when funds are being raised for the work of God;
careless children of God make very big vows ‘in faith’ that they are not able
to fulfil. You hear them saying, “God understands!” How dangerous. Our memory
verse says;
“Better is it that
thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
Ecclesiastes 5:5
Verse six of the same scripture further say:
“Suffer not thy mouth
to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an
error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of
thine hands?”
Worse still, despite being capable of paying
their vows, some refuse to, even after God has fulfilled His own part. Nothing
could be more dangerous than this.
An aspect of vows that is even more delicate
is the marriage vow. People no longer accept the fact that marriage vows remain
valid until death separates the husband from the wife or vice versa. They give
flimsy excuses for divorcing their spouses. Like one of my children would ask:
“When you were saying ‘for better and for worse’, did you put a limit to the
extent of the worse you were talking about?” You should never consider breaking
your marriage vows. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).
Beloved, always keep and pay your vows, and
if you have broken your business or marriage vow, repent, restitute and
reconcile before it is too late. Covenant breakers will not enter into the
Kingdom of God.
Action Point
Think of all the
unfulfilled vows you have made and make amends without further delay.
Bible in one year
Romans 4-7:6, Psalms 3-4
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