Broken Vows

When God says something, He can be counted on to keep His word.  Man qualifies his promises with swearing and oaths, but not God.  His Word is true.  Because God is righteous His deeds, character, and word are always in perfect alignment.  Men will someday answer for their own words and will even be judged by them:  every idle word will be accounted for and brought under God's judgment (Matthew 12:26).  Numbers 30 is an entire chapter in the Law of Moses establishing the fact that every vow a man or woman makes is important before God.  If a man made a vow to the LORD, God will hold him responsible to do all he has said.

How many times as a Christian have we said we were going to do something, followed through best as we could, but ultimately fell short of what we said?  We don't have to "cross our heart or hope to die, stick a needle in our eye" to make words spoken in secret binding before God.  I was reminded of this yesterday when I read from J. Edwin Orr's book Full Surrender.  "A man's word is his bond" it has been said, and this rings true concerning the words which come from a man in God's hearing - and He hears all.  The chapter I read made me think:  how many times had I spoken something and not followed through?  Has my relationship with God been hindered because of ignored vows, promises which were proved empty over time, words I simply forgot?  Better to confess my sin and fall on the mercies of God now and be restored than to answer for idle words in the future with negative eternal consequences.

Consider the closing thoughts of Dr. Orr in the first chapter:

"Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?"  Not all prayer is acceptable.  If one regards iniquity in one's heart, the Lord will not hear him.  A broken vow is a sin of omission.  It is also the commission of an affront to God.  It must be confessed as sin before fellowship is completely restored. Otherwise, the discipline of God, the chastening of the Lord, begins to operate.  It is necessary for the Lord to bring our schemes to nought in order that we may not waste time and effort in building of wood, hay and stubble.  Our Friend becomes our opponent, not our enemy, and says "check" to each move until, checkmated, we begin again with Him.

What then are the vows that Christians customarily make to God in times of blessing and on special occasions?  More time in prayer, more intercession for others, more devotional reading, more study, more personal witness, tithing of talents and money, better example to others, patience with children, personal purity, self-denial - there are the vows that are made in watch-night services, prayer meetings, evangelistic campaigns, deeper life conventions, missionary meetings, and the like.  These vows go unfulfilled.  Part of the price is kept back.

Until broken vows are mended, it is difficult to make progress along the way of consecration.  Before seeking blessing from God, one should carefully consider in retrospect one's previous dealings with Deity.  It is not enough that no offence was meant.  It is not enough that no deceit was planned in advance.  The sin against God arises from the most serious transgression of any commandment, that of nursing a coldness of heart towards God Himself. (Orr, J. Edwin. "Broken Vows." Full Surrender. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1951. 18-19. Print.)