Promise.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-9.

Do you ever make promises or vows you don't intend to keep? Do you dictate to God what you want Him to do in your life? In this pasage Solomon talks about our attitudes towards God. He tells us to NOT come into the house of God giving demands or telling God how we want Him to do certain things in our lives. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His purpose." We quickly forget that!! I think this perfectly appropriate for fasting. Fasting properly requires not only giving up something but also reading God's word and praying specifically. This does not mean you have a list of needs you want God to meet and you expect Him to meet them because you are giving up something. We need to draw close to God. Not come to Him with expectations. Imagine in your marriage your spouse never contributing to the marriage at ALL! But always wanting you to give 110%. That's not right! It's especially not right to do this to the ONE who died for you to give you eternal life.

This passage also touches on promises. Verse 4 says "When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!" Sometimes we like to make commitments to God because we are caught up in the moment. Example: You are standing in church, the pastor calls the invitation to come and commit to giving to the building fund and everyone else seems to be filling out a sheet of paper. before you even go to God about giving you are already filling out a card and rushing up to altar. You don't even give a second thought later. Don't make a promise to God that you don't intend to keep. Solomon continues in verse 5.  "It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay."

Today, let's think about what we promise to God. Do you promise to be a better parent? To give more to His Kingdom? To draw closer to Him and be in the Word everyday? If so, honor those promises, those vows to God. Pay it to the Lord. He deserves more than we could ever give Him. But what we do give Him he cherishes.