Lev. 27: 2 "When a man makes a difficult vow, he shall be valued according to your valuation of persons belonging to the Lord."

What might this mean?  To make a vow or commitment to the Lord was not to make some empty promise to God, but it would come with a price and a responsibility (vv. 3-27).  For a man to vow that he will dedicate his family to the Lord, or his work, his properties, etc., there would be a valuation of what that meant and what it would cost.  That if someone made such a vow, then he would either bring the appropriate sacrifice or an offering in silver to the temple to indicate the sincerity of their vow.  This would not be "paying off" God, but it reveals the level of commitment in the vow and how resolved they are to fulfill it!

Our words should not be full of empty promises to God.   When David made a vow to the Lord, he refused to give to God something that did not cost him! (2 Sam. 24: 24)  Do we make "vows" to the Lord and yet do not honor them or keep them?  Do we promise to give faithfully but when economic leanness occurs, the tithe is the first thing that is cut out?  Do we vow to serve in our church, yet that serving lasts for a short season?  Do we pledge to go on a mission trip, but our promise is quickly rescinded when an actual opportunity is presented because we were not sincere about going? Jesus said for us to count the cost and not simply make foolish vows and insincere commitments (Luke 14: 25-33).  Our vows to the Lord should not be made without considering what it will cost us, what we will have to change to honor it, and whether we love God to that extent. (Or do we love ourselves and our wants more?) 

God valued us with such worth that He gave His own Son for our redemption.  When our commitments and vows to God are so shallow and meaningless, could that be revealing that we have never grasped what all it means to follow Christ?

In Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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