Voluntary Vows
By its very nature, a vow should be something that rises from a personal decision and conviction. It requires something of the individual making the vow.
Unfortunately, we are somewhat desensitized to unfulfilled vows--think of the divorce rate, media presentation of business, religion, relationships, etc. In ancient times, the concepts of sin and vows were taken very, very seriously. Though our current culture may not, as followers of Jesus, we are to understand the gravity of unfaithfulness and deception.
When we enter into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we are led by the Holy Spirit. In that relationship, we are to continue being led by the Holy Spirit. But if we come into agreement with deception, we come into agreement with the father of lies himself, Satan, and he becomes our leader (John 8:42-47). On an individual level, we are presented with this option frequently--that is part of temptation.
We know there is really no temptation that is uncommon to man, but power can increase with numbers. Collusion with another person is beyond an individual temptation and becomes a conniving anti-God pursuit. This is to one's own detriment: how can you take a stand against the enemy of your soul if you have come into agreement to have him as leader of your "pack"?
Destiny lies with the vow(s) of the heart. Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to walk in deception--that is, be led by Satan--to try and present themselves as being led by God, motivated by love. And that was a lie. There was no obligation, they could have freely chosen to donate nothing. They could have freely chosen to donate part. What was required was honesty and sincere love. They chose poorly by choosing to deceive in order to appear, rather than be, holy--set apart for God.
Deception leads to destruction, and our destruction is an offense to God's creative presence. May God grant us repentance that we would not operate in the mentality of Ananias and Sapphira which vowed godliness, but chose to be faithful to deception. May we walk in a rightly focused fear of being an offense to our holy, gracious, loving God.
Read and Pray: Deuteronomy 23:21, Proverbs 19:5, Psalm 56, Revelation 21:22-27
By its very nature, a vow should be something that rises from a personal decision and conviction. It requires something of the individual making the vow.
Unfortunately, we are somewhat desensitized to unfulfilled vows--think of the divorce rate, media presentation of business, religion, relationships, etc. In ancient times, the concepts of sin and vows were taken very, very seriously. Though our current culture may not, as followers of Jesus, we are to understand the gravity of unfaithfulness and deception.
When we enter into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we are led by the Holy Spirit. In that relationship, we are to continue being led by the Holy Spirit. But if we come into agreement with deception, we come into agreement with the father of lies himself, Satan, and he becomes our leader (John 8:42-47). On an individual level, we are presented with this option frequently--that is part of temptation.
We know there is really no temptation that is uncommon to man, but power can increase with numbers. Collusion with another person is beyond an individual temptation and becomes a conniving anti-God pursuit. This is to one's own detriment: how can you take a stand against the enemy of your soul if you have come into agreement to have him as leader of your "pack"?
Destiny lies with the vow(s) of the heart. Ananias and Sapphira agreed together to walk in deception--that is, be led by Satan--to try and present themselves as being led by God, motivated by love. And that was a lie. There was no obligation, they could have freely chosen to donate nothing. They could have freely chosen to donate part. What was required was honesty and sincere love. They chose poorly by choosing to deceive in order to appear, rather than be, holy--set apart for God.
Deception leads to destruction, and our destruction is an offense to God's creative presence. May God grant us repentance that we would not operate in the mentality of Ananias and Sapphira which vowed godliness, but chose to be faithful to deception. May we walk in a rightly focused fear of being an offense to our holy, gracious, loving God.
Read and Pray: Deuteronomy 23:21, Proverbs 19:5, Psalm 56, Revelation 21:22-27
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