4 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– 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7
Another warning is given in these verses. The basic premise is this—when you make a promise, keep it. Breaking a promise is sin before God. Meaningless promises dishonor God and lead to his discipline.
Jesus, himself would give similar warnings about worship and promise-making in the gospel of Matthew. Consider Jesus’ words from this Scripture…
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:33-37
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 