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"Pay what you have vowed"

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:4

PAYING OF VOWS

Vows made to God have a sense of sacredness about it! Sound advice is given concerning the honouring of the vow.

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

1. “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it”

a) A vow is not just words spoken glibly.

b) The nature of a vow is a solemn promise made to God.

c) The vow must be “paid”.

d) The word “paid” has the following nuances:

i) Remembered

ii) Honoured

iii) Kept

iv) Fulfilled

e) “Do not delay” has the following nuances:

i) Promptness

ii) Swiftness

iii) Reflecting a desire to keep the vow.

iv) There should be no sense of dragging of one’s feet in keeping the vow.

2. “For He has no pleasure in fools”

a) This reflects God’s attitude to the person who does not honour his vow.

b) He is “a fool”.

c) And God does not take pleasure in such a person.

3. “Pay what you have vowed”

a) Honouring a vow reflects the integrity of the individual.

b) One must keep a word of promise made to God.

4. “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay”

a) It is wiser not to make a vow at all.

i) Making a vow is not compulsory.

ii) There are no commands from God to make vows.

b) If a vow has already been made:

i) A vow must be honoured.

ii) This was something that Solomon sought to emphasise.