Watch Your Step When You Worship (Part Three): Ecclesiasts 5

About this sermon

We live in an era of unkept promises. Nations sign important treaties and then break them at will. And many couples show little regard for their wedding vows. In this kind of society, we who are God's people should be known for keeping our promises. C. S. Lewis took that truth seriously. He was determined to pay what he had vowed. His biography tells of the suffering he endured because he kept a promise he had made to a buddy during World War I. This friend was worried about the care of his wife and small daughter if he should be killed in battle, so Lewis assured him that if that were to happen, he would look after them. As the war dragged on, the man was killed. True to his word, Lewis took care of his friend's family. Yet, no matter how helpful he tried to be, the woman was ungrateful, rude, arrogant, and domineering. Through it all, Lewis kept forgiving her. He refused to let her actions become an excuse to renege on his promise. We are to keep promises, not only ones that are made to others, but especially those we make to God. In this portion, Solomon noted careless prayers when he visited the temple. He also noted the careless vows that people made to God. People had foolishly made vows to the Lord that they had no intention to keep at all or were unable to keep. They were careless, reckless, and flippant with their promises. Going through the motions and not taking seriously your vows to the Lord are matters which reveal a serious problem in your relationship with God. When you fail to keep your promises to God, you are lying to Him and you are robbing yourself of many wonderful blessings from Him. Solomon said pay or keep your vows to the Lord. It you have no intention in doing so, it would be better to not make the vow to the Lord in the first place. This message was preached at Lincoln Land Baptist Church on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

Topics

• Worship