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Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one (Matthew 5:37, NLT).
Jesus taught his disciples to keep things simple with their commitments — just a simple “yes” or “no” would suffice. There’s no need to say things like “on my mother’s grave” or “I swear on the Bible.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus further expands His views of vows. . .
But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King (Matthew 5:34-35).
Jesus wasn’t teaching that vows were evil. In the Jewish culture at that time, extravagant vows were showy displays of piety, with the commitment soon forgotten or broken. To this mentality, Jesus was saying, “You don’t have to convince someone of your sincerity with extravagant claims of faithfulness. Just say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ And then keep the promise.”
I made a vow to the Lord on my first day as a Christian.
At midnight on New Year’s Eve 1971/1972, I was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean at Daytona Beach. I’d been doing drugs and was experiencing paranoia, fear, and confusion descending when I woke up in the morning.
It was a dark blanket encompassing me that kept getting worse.
When I woke up on January 1, 1972, the dark cloud again formed in the room, drawing closer. I cried out to God, “Please deliver me from this darkness, and I will serve you the rest of my life.”
The cloud suddenly disappeared. That was 53 years ago, and I’m still serving Jesus!
The religion of the Old Testament was transactional in the sense that good works brought blessing, while the New Testament teaches a relationship with God through the grace of our Lord. We should still make commitments, but the motive should be love, not worldly gain or proving to God our worthiness.
Or, in my case, a cry of desperation, wanting to serve Jesus but knowing that I couldn’t while possessed by darkness. Our vows should sync with God’s will for our lives as we seek first His Kingdom, motivated by adoration.
Practically, I see value in New Year’s Resolutions.
But I would rather our determination to lose weight, eat better, and spend more time with God and family while tithing, serving at the food pantry, attending small groups, and going on a short-term mission trip — all calmed down to a simple, “God, I want to do this, please help. And as You extend your grace, it will enable me to better serve You.”
These grace/relational vows will cause demons of darkness and confusion to flee.
As the Book of James teaches. . .
The Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned (James 5:11b-12).
Self-condemnation results from “over-the-top” professions of obedience and discipline. Since God works out our salvation, a simple request with praise will do the trick.
In 2025, by God’s grace, I will continue to challenge myself and all of you by writing Interruptions!