VOWS

Good morning to you all Parishioners of Steemchurch. This is another day God has made, lets be glad and rejoice.
It has been my pleasure sharing with you on the title "Vows."

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Vow has been explained as: "making a promise to another person, with a condition that if you fail to abide by the regulations governing your vows, you will sanctioned.
Vows can be made to humanity, and also to God. But whatever be the case, the fellow making vows must honour his promises whether it was made to humanity or God.
Among the Israelites, aside their first fruits, tithes and offering, the children of of Israel also made special vows unto the Lord. Those vows were made voluntarily and they were considered HOLY.

The vow has two basic forms, conditional and unconditional. The conditional vow generally had a preceding clause before the oath given the conditions which has to come to pass before the vow becomes valid.

Jacob made a vow to the LORD:
" If you will be with me and protect me on the journey I am making and give me food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father's home, then you will be my God. This memorials stone which I have set up will be the place where you will be worshipped, and I will give you tenth of everything you give me."(Genesis 28:20-22).

The unconditional vow also has to do with an "Oath" where someone binds himself without expecting anything in returns.
In the assembly of all His people I will give Him what I have promised.(Psalm 116:14).

Hannah made a vow to the LORD, in her desire to have a child. She vowed that if God gave her a son, she would give him to God for His service:
"She was deeply distressed, and she cried bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. Meanwhile, Eli the priest was sitting in his place by the door, Hannah made a solemn promise: "Almighty Lord, look at me, your servant! See my troubles and remember me. Do not forget me. IF YOU GIVE ME A SON, I PROMISE THAT I WILL DEDICATE HIM TO YOU FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE WILL NEVER HAVE HIS HAIR CUT...." (1Sam. 1:10-11).

God fulfilled his part of the agreement, and now it was Hannah's responsibility to honour the promise. How did she manage it?

After she had weaned him, she took him to Shiloh, taking along a three-year old bull, ten kilograms of flour, and a leather bag full of wine. She took Samuel, young as he was, to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. After they have killed the bull, they took the child to Eli. Hannah said to him, "Excuse me, sir. Do you remember me? I am the woman you saw standing here, praying to the LORD. I asked him for this this child, and He gave me what I asked for. So I am dedicating him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he will belong to the LORD." Then they worshipped the LORD There.(1Samuel. 1:24-28)

A vow needs to be fulfilled by the one who make the vow, because God does not entertain empty promises. Therefore when you make a vow do not delay in fulfilling it.
"Because He has no pleasure in fools; pay that which you vowed."(Ecclesiastes 5:4).

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The principles of Vows
There should be a mature and thoughtful reflection concerning vows. The Bible will not countenance vows that are entered into or made in an immature way.
Vows are sacred and binding, Christians should not go through the experience Ananias and Sapphire went through when they broke the vow made. When a verbal or written pledge has been made in the presence of other believers to give a certain amount of money, do not delay in paying it, because those present become the visible witness of a contract made between ourselves and God. Christians who pledge must do well to fulfill them. A vow made to God, is still a significant.