KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:15. “And after those days, we took up our carriages and went up to Jerusalem”

Apostle Paul did not make empty words only to abandon his commitments, but he acted on his words. Our key scripture says he and his team took their carriages and went to Jerusalem.

Many people are empty talkers. They say very high-sounding words only to forsake their vows, commitments, or pledges. Apostle Paul quickly acted on his pledge. Some of us make pledges of various sums of money during fundraising programs, only to fail to honour our pledges. There are also occasions when church members promise to make themselves available for evangelistic activities, yet when the time is due, you only find a handful of people present. Please note what the Lord says about vows or pledges. Num 30:2 “If a man vows a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth”. This is what the Lord says to all those who make vows: make sure you honour your words.
A man who honours his words would be able to trust God no matter the challenge that arises. He will always have the confidence of people.

These days, many marriages are under stress because parties are dishonouring their vows. One of the biggest challenges many marriages face is trust. This is most unfortunate. Infidelity abounds all over. This should not be said about the Christian. The Lord is always the ever-present witness to your pledges or vows to your spouses. Malachi 2:14 “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant”. God is not only a witness to the vows made but a third party to that union. The marriage of Christians is a threefold chord. Ecclesiastes 4:12 “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. The marriage of the Christian is a threefold chord, and our Father is the third party. Your vows are to him as well. God is the one who would come against your unfaithfulness.

Honour your pledge always, and life would be simpler and fulfilling for you.

Why do people break their vows?
Many people do not count the cost of what they are talking about. The man who has fully assessed the demands of his pledge or vows and decides to go ahead becomes ready to bear the consequences.

Secondly, any man who fails to honour his words may not have true fear for God ( there are some cases when one is sincere about whatever he says, yet physical limitations just make it impossible to honour that word: In such a scenario, God acknowledges your sincere efforts
). Barring unforeseen eventualities, such people do not consider God’s severity on them, and so they make vows not intending to honour them.

Dear one, always weigh whatever word you give out, and when you have given your word, stick to it.

CONFESSION

I have the spirit of faithfulness in me. I honour every vow, pledge, or promise I make. My life is very fulfilling because God is pleased with me and blesses me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Job 22:27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Psalms 61:5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.