Vow

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow" (Ecclesiastes 5:4).

It occurs to me as I read this passage that "vow" is a word you don't hear a lot of anymore. We prefer to make promises or sign contracts. The church may be one of the few places where we still ask people to make "vows." There are "vows" in the wedding ceremony, and when a person joins the church, we ask them to take membership vows. Why does the rest of the world prefer "promises" (which seem to be just as easily broken as made) or contracts?

I think it's because vows seem so much more life-encompassing. A vow, when made, is something that takes over your entire life. Contracts and, to a lesser extent, promises are much more narrow. You make a promise to show up on a certain date in a certain place—either you do or you don't and either way, it's a short-term thing. You sign a contract to complete certain tasks by a certain date. Either you do or you don't, but either way it's clear-cut.

But a vow...well, a vow can mess up your life and creep into areas you didn't plan for it to.

The marriage vow: to honor that other person above all others. So when the advertisement pops up online for that porn site, or when your wants threaten to drain the bank account you both have built up, or in any number of other occasions...the question must be asked: how do I fulfill my vow? How do I honor my spouse?

The membership vow: in our tradition, persons are asked to commit to prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. So when that great opportunity arises to sleep in on Sunday morning, when you have a chance to speak up about Jesus, when you get in conflict with someone else in the church...the question has to be asked: how do I fulfill my vow?

See what I mean? Promises and contracts are narrow (and, arguably, easier). Vows take over your life.

And that's why, I think, you don't hear the word "vow" used much beyond the church. But we use it unapologetically, because Jesus asks for everything. He wants your whole life, not just a small part or for a short time. He wants and deserves everything.

He wants us to fulfill the vows we make. And, in fact, his plan for redeeming the world—using us to share the good news about what he has done—depends on it. Fulfill your vows, the Teacher says. Be faithful so that all may know this God who always keeps his vow to us.