The Value of Making Vows
"I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people" (Ps. 116:14).
Hippocratic Oath
One of the oldest binding documents in history, the Oath written by Hippocrates is still held sacred by physicians: to treat the ill to the best of one’s ability, to preserve a patient’s privacy, to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, and so on.
A Knight’s Vow
On that same day did Arthur found his Order of the Round Table, the fame of which was to spread throughout Christendom and endure through all time .... One hundred and fifty knights might take their places about it. With pomp and ceremony did each knight take upon him the vows of true knighthood:.
To obey the King
To quest for the Holy Grail.
To speak the truth and maintain the right.
To protect the poor, the distressed, and all women.
To practice courtesy and kindness with all.
To despise the allurements of ease and safety.
To maintain honor and the cause of God.
To all, with strength and will, to right the wronged.
Then they rode forth to right the wrong and help the oppressed with continual loyalty to the King.
The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
Enlistment Armed Services Oath
I _______ do solemly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed overme, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
Marine Corps
It is a Marine Corps tradition not to leave dead Marines on the battlefield, and Marines have died trying to retrieve those dead. This means that after his training, a young Marine has, without words, taken a vow to offer his life for another Marine.
Presidential Oath of Office
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Boy Scout Oath
On my honor, I will do my best:
* To do my duty to God and my country and to have good character
* To help other people at all times
* To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight
AWANA Pledge
I pledge allegiance to the AWANA flag, which stands for the AWANA clubs, whose goal is to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Christ, and train them to serve Him.
Virginity Pledges
Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship.
( According to “The Heritage Foundation” Adolescents who take a virginity pledge have substantially lower levels of sexual activity and better life outcomes when compared with similar adolescents who do not make such a pledge,)
Wedding Vow
RINGS: (Said to each One)
What token do you give in commemoration of this pledge?
(Ring is passed forming a triangle)
May the circle of this ring typify your unending happiness and may the triangle formed in its passing signify the triune relationship with Him who reigns above where all true marriages reign.
REPEAT:
With this ring I thee wed To love you, comfort you, honor and keep you In sickness and in health And forsaking all others keeping only unto you So long as we both shall live In the name of the Father and of the Son And the Holy Ghost.
- Chuck Colson "Cohabitation - It’s Training for Divorce"
80%+ of cohabiting couples do not stay together compared with 33% who get a devoice
❶ Why We Veer From Vows
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Most of us avoid the making of vows. Our life is what it is because of our vows or our lack of vows.
There are a number of reasons why we avoid the making of vows:
1. We don’t like obligations
- Accountability & deadlines binds us
2. We love the easy life
- Free to do as we please
3. We fear future outcomes
- Not going the way we hope,
4. We have a tendency to be selfish.
- We are inclined to put self at the center and then hope that everything will revolve around us.
- We should recognize that our decisions determine our destiny.
- Visions must be matched with vows if our castles in the air are to become realities.
- Life of Samson had none of his Nazerite Vow
❷. Life Valueless Without Vows
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1. Life becomes aimless without vows.
- Vows should be made with a definite objective in mind
Paul had this when he was in prison = Philip 1:21
2. Life is wasted without vows
- Aimlessness leads to a wasted life.
- Esau seeing his parents approval of a wife for Jacob he goes for any wife - Gen 28:6-9
- Vows help us to channel our efforts and energies toward that which is worthwhile. The peril of drifting is a very real threat to each of us. It is a tragedy to live a life that has no higher authority than the mood, or impulse of the moment.
3. Vows keep you passionate
- A wasted life is a nonproductive life.
> Prov. 4:26).
❸. The Value of Vows
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1. Vows gives stability to your life.
2. Reminds you what you have and where you are going
3. Vows are essential for spiritual growth and success.
• We must make vows concerning regular worship.
• We must make vows concerning a devotional study of the Bible.
• We must make vows concerning our prayer focus.
• We must make vows concerning our financial obligations .
4. Vows gives me direction and a reason for purpose
A purpose tracks your life
- A purpose will give me a reason to live
- A purpose will motivate me
- A purpose will keep my priorities straight
- A purpose will develop my potential
- A purpose will help me evaluate my progress
- All because of a vow
❹. Validate Your Vows
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The vows of the psalmist: "I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people" (Ps. 116:14 & 18).
Pay your vows – Keep your promise
- Jud 11:29-40 - Don’t make rash vows – Jephthah
> Ps 61:5, 8 - God hears our vows
- Daily perform your vows
1. I will do it
(Ps. 116:2 & 13b). "I will. . . call upon the name of the LORD"
- This is a vow that transforms all of life.
- Call can mean praise
2. I will walk
(Ps. 116:9)"I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living".
This is a vow that lifts us to a new level of spiritual experience.
• Stewardship.
• Influence.
• Example.
• Desire for divine approval.
3. I will take
(Ps. 116:13a) - "I will take the cup of salvation, . . ." This is a vow that deepens our personal experience with God.
1. The bitter and the sweet.
2. The pleasant and the difficult.
3. I will experience God’s full program for my life.
4. I will pay
(Ps 116:14) I will pay my vows unto the Lord
- This vow testifies of my relationship with Christ
- I owe all to the Lord
5. I will offer
“ I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving" (Ps. 116:17). This is a vow that releases joy. Your life can be an anthem of praise.
Conclusion.
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- Your life is the result of your choices, responses, vows have faced your burdens and your opportunities.
- Your vows are inward decisions that determine your future.
- Make personal vows that are purposeful and productive.
- Vows that will be worthy to give praise to our Lord.
- To stagger back from the opportunity to make vows is to stumble into oblivion.
