Keeping Our Vows to God: Faithfulness Amid the Fight

Title: Keeping Our Vows to God: Faithfulness Amid the Fight

Scripture References:

Psalm 66:13 – “I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows.” Numbers 30:2 – “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” Deuteronomy 23:21 – “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.”

Introduction:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in a world where commitments and promises are easily broken. People make vows, whether in business, relationships, or even to God, only to neglect them when the challenges come. But as believers, we are called to a higher standard. Our vows to God are not just words; they are covenants, bound by the very faith we profess.

Today, I want to speak on the importance of keeping our vows to God and how Satan, self, and sin all conspire to lead us away from fulfilling them. Psalm 66:13 says, "I will pay thee my vows," and this should be the cry of every believer's heart—no matter the battle, no matter the trial.

I. The Weight of a Vow:

In Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21, the Bible tells us the seriousness of making vows to the Lord. "If a man vow a vow unto the Lord… he shall not break his word." God takes our promises seriously. When we speak a vow, it becomes a binding contract between us and God.

Too often, we make vows in moments of desperation or great need, promising God that we will serve Him or give something back if He delivers us. Yet, when the storm clears, we forget what we vowed. Ecclesiastes 5:4 warns us: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.”

What we vow to God must not be taken lightly. It is better not to vow at all than to make a promise and break it. When we promise our hearts, our lives, our service to Him, we must follow through with obedience.

II. Satan’s Tactics: Planting Doubt and Deceit:

Satan has been working to make people break their vows since the beginning of time. In Genesis 3, he introduced doubt with the question, “Has God said?” Satan's ultimate goal is to separate us from God, and one of his most powerful tools is deception. He whispers in our ears, telling us that our vows do not matter, that God doesn’t need us to keep them, or that we can fulfill them later.

In Acts 5, we see how Satan filled the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira, causing them to lie to the Holy Spirit and break their vow regarding the sale of their property. Satan seeks to cause us to break our vows to God just as he caused them to hold back part of the price, thinking they could deceive God. But we cannot lie to the Holy Spirit and escape the consequences.

When we make a vow to God, whether it be our time, our resources, or our lives, Satan will work to lead us away from fulfilling it. James 4:7 tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We must resist Satan’s attempts to get us to break our promises.

III. The Battle Against Self and Emotions:

Sometimes the greatest enemy in keeping our vows is not Satan, but our own selves—our emotions and weaknesses. We experience moments of joy, sadness, or anger, and these emotions can sway our commitment. In anger, we may abandon our vows. In sadness, we may feel too weak to keep them. In joy, we may get complacent and forget our promises.

In 1 Timothy 5:15, Paul warns that “some have already turned aside after Satan.” This turning aside often happens when we let our own desires, ambitions, and self-centeredness take priority over our devotion to God.

The solution is clear: we must keep ourselves submitted to God’s will and purpose. Luke 9:23 reminds us that if we are to follow Christ, we must “deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.” The daily act of denying self and staying focused on God’s purpose will enable us to keep our vows.

IV. The Influence of Family and Others:

Even those closest to us—family, friends, or even church members—can sometimes cause us to break our vows. Whether through persuasion or distraction, the enemy can use loved ones to divert us from our commitments to God.

In Matthew 10:37, Jesus says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” Our commitment to God must come first, even above those closest to us. When we vow something to God, no human relationship should come between us and that vow.

V. Sin as a Stumbling Block:

Lastly, we must recognize that sin is one of the greatest barriers to fulfilling our vows. Sin separates us from God, and when we allow it to linger in our lives, it prevents us from walking in obedience.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Sin not only hinders our relationship with God but also our ability to keep our promises to Him. Repentance is essential. If we’ve broken a vow because of sin, we must repent and turn back to God.

Conclusion: Faithfulness Amid the Fight:

Keeping our vows to God is not always easy. We face a real enemy in Satan, our own emotions, influences around us, and the pull of sin. But the Bible calls us to be faithful. Philippians 4:13 encourages us that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Christ strengthens us to remain faithful and fulfill what we’ve vowed.

So, I challenge you today: Are there vows you have made to God that need to be kept? Have you let Satan, self, or sin cause you to forget your commitments? Let today be the day that you renew your vows before the Lord, recommit your life to His service, and walk in obedience to the promises you’ve made.

Psalm 66:13 declares, “I will pay thee my vows.” Let that be the testimony of our hearts as we stay faithful to God, no matter the battles we face.

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before You are acknowledging the vows we have made and the times we have failed to keep them. Forgive us for where we have fallen short. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to remain faithful to our commitments, to resist the enemy, and to walk in purity. May our lives be a testimony of devotion and obedience to You, no matter the cost. In Jesus’ name, Amen.