In the Bible book of Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 we find these words, “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.”
We see people taking vows in all aspects of society. It could be the oath of office, a re-enlistment, an appointment, a wedding, or an oath to tell the truth. We may have different names for these, but they all are “VOWS” (promises). One key thing with all these vows is that they are done in witness of God.
This scripture tells us that we should keep our vow, and it is better not to make a vow and break it, than to make vow and to break it. It’s amazing how many times we make a vow and don’t think anything about and the importance or impact.
Just take a minute to think about the vows that you have made, have you kept them? From the marriage vows to the re-enlistment oath, we willingly make these promises in witness of God and we fail to keep them. We may say “I didn’t know I was going to deploy” or “I didn’t know I was suppose to listen to my husband or wife.” “How did you know I was lying on the witness stand?”
These things impact on someone else’s life, yes someone else has to deploy to do your job. Someone else has to deal with the impact of your relationship. Someone else was just convicted on your lie.
We must think about what we are promising and fully understand what we are saying in witness if God. God holds us accountable for our words and vows. Now let’s think about if God decided he would not honor his word or vow. God said He loves us and He would send us a Savior. He did, Jesus Christ.
What if He did not keep His word? Where would we be? Would we have an opportunity to give our lives to Him and go from death in sin to everlasting life?  Just like God keeps His vow, we must also. Like the word says, don’t be a fool, keep your vow. Be Blessed.

Andrews is president of the UMA and a member of Mount Carmel Ministries.