I received a bill today from Popular Mechanics magazine. Apparently when I subscribed last year I committed myself to a lifetime relationship. They did not ask me to resubscribe. They automatically billed me for the coming year. I must have been distracted when I vowed “til death do us part.” I would be upset if it weren’t for the fact it is only $1.20 an issue mailed to my front door. That really is a bargain.
Vows are an interesting part of the human experience. The first vow I ever made was a temperance vow. When I was about ten someone made a presentation that ended with my vowing never to use alcohol or tobacco. Does God hold me to that vow sixty years later knowing how young and impressionable I was? So far so good. John the Baptist took a lifetime Nazarite vow that included never cutting his hair. So did Samson and look what happened when his hair was cut.
It’s all about promise keeping and how good we are at carrying through on our promises. If we are going to raise a generation of youth with an understanding of the importance of promises, we as parents need to be sure we always keep our word. Whether we desire it or not we are being watched. We are role models for future generations. When a small child says, “But Daddy, you promised.” Dad better think long and hard before not following through on that commitment.
Sometimes we are caught unaware and before we realize the full consequences of dishonoring our word we break a promise. Hopefully the humans around us are as gracious as God. How grand it is to have a forgiving God who understands our humanness.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 27, 2013
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org