Guide your mouth. Avoid empty vows and promises.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

4. When you tell GOD you’ll do something, do it–now. GOD takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it.

5. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.

6. Don’t let your mouth make a total of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Why risk provoking GOD to angry retaliation?

7.  But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk There’s always this rock foundation: Fear GOD. [MSB]

INSPIRATION.

(Guide your mouth, avoid empty vows/promises).

It’s a known fact that people make promises in public functions or gatherings, either out of zeal, fantasy, or by human/spirit (wine) induced influence.

Most often, it happens in religious gather during fund raising events and ceremonies, making pledges and empty promises. But when confronted, their response will always be “I did that to promote the event/show, or I owe nobody but GOD, since it’s the house of GOD, let me settle it with HIM.”

When you make a vow or promises, pay up, be it in your family meeting, Church, or community gathering, it’s better that you should not promise, than not redeeming your promises.

In Judges Chapter 11:1-12:7. There was a man named Jephthah. This man served as a judge over Israel for years, according to biblical account, this man was a Gileadite born of a prostitute. Though a great warrior, he was rejected by his people and casted out, being considered an illegitimate son of the family. Jephthah left the family and found himself among gangsters. Later on, when the Ammonites came up against the Israelites in war, and there was nobody to lead the battle, then the people remembered Jephthah and sent for him asking for help. The elders of Gilead voluntarily offered to serve Jephthah should he help them defeat their enemy. Jephthah accepted the offer to go to war. Jephthah then made a vow to GOD saying, “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering (Judges 11:30-31).

GOD then answered his prayer, he defeated the Ammonites and returned home to Mizpah. When he arrived home, the first person to come out to welcome him was his daughter (the only child).

This unexpected event caused Jephthah to tear his clothes in mourning, though the daughter accepted the consequences of her father’s vow, but Jephthah was bittered and sorrowful due to his rash vow.

What a lesson to learn from Jephthah.

Firstly, GOD can use us regardless of our background and we cannot change where we came from, yet HE can use us in great ways despite our past.

Secondly, we are not to make rash commitments or promises to GOD no matter where or what situation we find ourselves. As we can see, Jephthah lost his only child over such rash and unguided verbal commitment.

Thirdly, discrimination against our fellow human being and stigmatizing them due to their background is a sin and evil, because we don’t know GOD’S plan for us through them.

Lastly, even when we do the right thing, we may have to endure hardship from others whosoever he/she may be. Jephthah had to endure the trouble of rejection and humiliation from the people of Ephraim, despite being empowered by GOD’S Spirit to free them from the Ammonites.

Prayer for the day.

Thank You FATHER for another day, thank You for the blessings and gift of life showered upon us at Your presence, be exalted. Merciful FATHER, help us to tame our tongue and guide our speech -that we may not sin against You by making empty vows and promises, but let our “yes be yes, and our no be no”

Help us not to fear the future but boldly trust that You are in control when our emotions plunge us down, and when we are in despair.

And times when we can’t talk and don’t know what to say. Help us to “Be still and know that You are GOD.” Be our comforter, our healer, our protector, and our provider and bring peace to our hearts.

Bless our bread and water as we launch into the world today, thank You Ancient of days for another prayer answered, in Jesus Mighty name, Amen.

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

If you don’t Know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour and would like to accept him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, Please say this prayer:

Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your Will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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Chukwuemeka Obiorah Ogwo.