In Ecclesiastes chapter five, verses four through six, “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. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?”
A vow is a solemn promise to God that must be kept: It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill it. New Testament believers make a vow to live separated from sin and dedicated to God when they participate in the Lord’s supper. Its significance relates to the past, present, and future. Seeking the pleasures of sin after making this vow to God brings His anger and judgment, for it means that the vow was a lie. Lying to God may bring severe punishment.
Marriage vows are the most popular ones for couples, as many have said them at the altar and many have kept them. However, some partners within that solemn union have not ended their relationship by divorce and separation. These situations can be tragic, especially if young kids are involved. The punishment for failing to fulfill a vow to God can be severe. Especially the people within the family can have a lasting effect on them.
For believers, paying a vow to the Lord is a lifetime decision that all must abide. Therefore, if we have said anything to the Lord by making promises, professing we will do this or that, we had better begin fulfilling them because it will have an impact on our lives.