We all have been in a spot when a child asks the world's most famous question “Why”? Proceeded by once again “Why”? Which then triggers a whole rabbit train of whys and so on, to the point we don't have the answer they are looking for. In that moment we most likely throw out some crazy answer that then stops them from asking more questions!
Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God. God is in heaven
you are on earth,
so let your words be few.”
Maybe it's not a child, and you feel like you must give an answer that you do not know so you put your best guest forward. We see that the Bible tells us to not be quick with our mouth, and not to have hasty in your heart. The word Hasty means to do something with excessive speed, urgency or be hurried. However, this applies to more than just our mouth and giving answers, it applies to promises.
verse 4
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.
He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better
not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
We should hold true to any promise we make, big or small. The Bible spells it out for us that it is better to not make a promise then to not follow through on one. For us men, how easy is it for us to tell our wife's “yes, I will make sure that gets done”, but then we get trapped by a tv show or a sporting event and then we get reminded that we did not follow through on our word? Maybe it's promising our kids we will take them outside to play, but get distracted by work or social media? No matter how big or small the promise may be, let us take heart in today's scripture reading and make a promise, keep a promise!
Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God. God is in heaven
you are on earth,
so let your words be few.”
Maybe it's not a child, and you feel like you must give an answer that you do not know so you put your best guest forward. We see that the Bible tells us to not be quick with our mouth, and not to have hasty in your heart. The word Hasty means to do something with excessive speed, urgency or be hurried. However, this applies to more than just our mouth and giving answers, it applies to promises.
verse 4
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.
He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better
not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
We should hold true to any promise we make, big or small. The Bible spells it out for us that it is better to not make a promise then to not follow through on one. For us men, how easy is it for us to tell our wife's “yes, I will make sure that gets done”, but then we get trapped by a tv show or a sporting event and then we get reminded that we did not follow through on our word? Maybe it's promising our kids we will take them outside to play, but get distracted by work or social media? No matter how big or small the promise may be, let us take heart in today's scripture reading and make a promise, keep a promise!