Bad Promises

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools, pay what you vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." Ecclesiastes 5:4&5

Most people have found themselves in this predicament at one time or another. There is a special offering, and you want to be a part of it, so you promise an amount you want to give. Then things happen, and you don't have the money to give. This is the reason I don't get involved with faith promises. For me, they have rarely turned out for the better. This works in all areas, not just money.

People make promises to God all the time without any real desire to make good on them. God doesn't play "Let's make a deal". It is far better not to say anything than to promise something and not do it. This also works in personal relationships.

I was working evenings at a hotel and had a wedding coming up that I really wanted to attend. I was scheduled to work that particular evening, so I asked a coworker if they would trade shifts with me, and they agreed. I worked their shift right away, but when it came to my shift, they wouldn't do it. I missed the wedding. It would have been far better to have not entered into the trade to begin with.

By Rick “Papa” Wilson