3.15 - VOWING (No. 2)

VOWING (No. 2)

I must express my hearty appreciation for such splendid responses to these noonday addresses. Your presence has been both all inspiration and all encouragement, and whatever good may have resulted, I am sure that all of us rejoice together.

I read to you Psalms 66:13-14.

"I will go into shine house with burnt offerings; I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble." The talk today is but a continuation of that begun yesterday on the subject, "Vowing." I said to you that a vow was a pledge or all obligation, and that the trouble with the world was largely due to the fact that we are not fulfilling our sacred vows, and living up to our pledges and obligations. I said that some among us occupying places of prominence had practiced deception and that confidence had been largely destroyed. After almost every man a question mark has been placed. A nation is in a strait when such conditions prevail.

We are spending more money and giving more attention to the education of our children than ever before in the history of the world, but the great stream that comes forth from the schoolroom bearing its diplomas year after year is not such a stream as to elicit the greatest confidence on the part of the world into which it passes.

There is something lacking. They are fine specimens of humanity; their intellects have been trained and developed; their perceptive powers have been made acute; and all the intellectuality has been attained that could be expected; but somewhere there is something wrong, and the location of it is in the fact that the schools of the land are lacking in making moral and spiritual impressions upon those committed to their care.

We have got to reverse our gear before peace and tranquillity can prevail upon the earth, and confidence in our fellows be restored.

I had somewhat to say yesterday noon regarding our obligations, the breaking of our word, the failure to pay our honest, just debts, and also indicated that those with whom I am usually classed are not altogether free. All over this country there are preachers (and they belong to no special organization) who are questionable with reference to their honesty in the common business affairs of life. I have heard of preachers who would not pay their rents, grocery bills, etc.

Don’t you know, my friends, that the cause of Christ cannot get anywhere with representatives and leaders of that type?

Now I feel sure that my heart is in genuine sympathy with preachers. I know that lots of times the remuneration is so meager that it becomes next to impossible for them to "get by," but that of itself is no reason for not making good their financial obligations, or, at least, doing the very best within their power.

I would not have any preacher on earth to misinterpret what I am now to say. I know that there are various reasons for preachers changing localities, but right on its face that does not always look good. Sometimes there is attached, in spite of what might be the real facts, just a little bit of question when you see a preacher here one year, somewhere else next year, and a third place the next year, and so on. Sometimes there are debts left behind; his influence has departed; his honesty has been questioned; and, hence, he goes to parts unknown.

Now that is unfortunate. I want to tell you that the preachers who have been the most influential are those who have settled down at some place, and have there stayed and built up the cause of Christ around about them. I say it with no reflection upon the others, but I just appreciate such characters as Brother John R. Williams, who planted himself in Obion County and there stayed until twenty and four congregations were built up, most largely by his efforts.

Over at Greenfield is Brother J. L. Holland, who has been there since I can remember, and is as well beloved today as any citizen in that town or throughout the country.

Brother Joe Ratcliffe is but a synonym for Bardwell, Ky.—mention the one and the other comes to mind.

Brother M. C. Kurfees has been with one congregation in Louisville ever since I heard the name of Kurfees mentioned.

Brother F. W. Smith has been preaching for the church down at Franklin for lo, these many years.

Brother W. D. Campbell stayed with one congregation in the city of Detroit for more than thirty years. Now I think the recitation of these matters complimentary in every phase and feature. It shows that they have been able to make good not only their business obligations, but their lives have been such that there was no occasion for moving. They can look out over the field wherein they have sowed the seed and have developed the crop. It becomes to them a source of joy and rejoicing always.

Let me now call attention to some of the outstanding characters in the Bible, prominent because of the fact that they did what they said they would, and made good their obligations. In Genesis 14:1-24, there is the record of Abraham’s having pursued his nephew Lot and the citizens of Sodom far toward the northern part of their land. He wrested them from the grasp of old Chedorlaomer, who had subjected them and was carrying them away. This event is one of the outstanding features in the life of Abraham. Upon his return to the city of Sodom, he was met by the king, who offered to pay him handsomely and richly for such a wonderful victory attained.

Now there would have been nothing wrong in Abraham’s accepting silver and gold. He wasn’t prejudiced against having such, for the Bible says that Abraham was rich in silver and gold, in flocks and in herds. Well might the king have given unto him sufficiently of material things for the return of his people.

Why didn’t Abraham accept a great remuneration? Anything wrong in it of itself? Absolutely not. Would he have been condemned had he done so? Under ordinary circumstances, no. Then why didn’t he do it? My friends, there is just one reason: Abraham said to the king, "I have lifted up my hand unto God that I would not accept from a thread to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is shine." "Why, Abraham?" "I said that I would not." "Well, but, Abraham, did you give your note or sign a bond to the effect that you would not accept anything?"

“No."

"Did you mortgage any of your property?"

“No!”

"Well, what is at stake?"

"Just my word, that’s all."

Friends, why has Abraham gone down on the pages of sacred history and his memory been perpetuated on down the line? It is because of the fact that such elements evidenced themselves when he had power to show to the contrary. Therefore, as long as time shall roll on, and God’s Book be read, the story of the uprightness and the grandeur of Abraham will influence the generations of men.

Again, in Genesis 28:1-22, when Jacob left home at the threat of his brother Esau, and started back to old Padan-aram, he came up from Hebron to Jerusalem, and on twelve miles north to Bethel. Night overtook him and, there being no hotels or places where people ordinarily stay, he simply pillowed his head upon a rock, lay upon the kindly bosom of Mother Earth, had the canopy of the heaven as his cover, and the twinkling stars as his light.

There he slept and dreamed, and in a vision there was a great ladder reaching from earth to heaven, on which the angels were ascending and descending. The result of that dream was a recognition of the presence of God. The next morning Jacob took that pillow of stone, and set it up as a pillar and designated that spot the house of God—which the word Bethel means. Then he said this: "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." That is Jacob’s vow. That is the thing which proceeded out of his mouth.

Nobody went his security; no piece of property was tied up. Now I understand thoroughly that when a man like Jacob does not have anything, it is all exceedingly easy matter to make promises as to what he will do. Unfortunately, I have noted some characters who, when fortune did chance to come to them, forgot their pledges unto God and turned wholeheartedly away.

Jacob had vowed a vow, and went on his way. He met and married one whom he loved at sight; he stayed in the house of his father-in-law possibly forty years, and at last did return, rich in the affairs of the earth, but so far as history records, the time never was when Jacob failed to make good his vow. It became a law to all his posterity, that one-tenth belongs unto God Almighty.

Again, in 1 Samuel 1:1-28, there is a story of interest. A man by the name of Elkanah had two wives; the name of one was Peninnah, and the name of the other was Hannah. Hannah had not, and apparently could not, become a mother. In those days that was a great calamity. Of course, times and customs have changed. The matter grew serious with Hannah. Her desire was to become the mother of a manchild. Finally she went to the Lord in prayer about it, and made a vow unto God, saying: "Oh, Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of shine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget shine handmaid, but wilt give unto shine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." In the process of time that prayer was answered, and Samuel was born. His very name means "asked of the Lord." The mother of Samuel kept him and nursed him and denied herself many trips and pleasures that otherwise she might have indulged in, until, by and by, the time cam’ to wean the child.

Now she loved him as tenderly as any of you mothers ever loved your first-born babe, but because of her word, she brought him to the place assigned, and there parted with him, dedicating Samuel to the Lord.

Upon what ground did she part with the very idol of her being? On the principle, "I said I would."

What a fine opportunity today, with corruption and rottenness around about us, for some boy or girl to stand out, and impress the world so that it may say, "What he says you can depend upon." To be absolutely honest, perfectly reliable, plus competent, is the very best that can be had. This audience knows the pathetic story of Jephthah, who at first was cast off by his brethren, on the ground that his mother was a harlot. They thrust out Jephthah, saying: "Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a strange woman." The time came when those very sons were in subjection to the Ammonites and were struggling and longing for a leader. They decided that there was only one man able to lead them to victory and to wrest them from the oppression. That man was none other than their half-brother whom they had cast aside. With humility they went to Jephthah and said: "Come and be our captain, that are may fight with the children of Ammon." My friends, we ought to be mighty careful about kicking some poor boy aside, or ignoring someone who could not help conditions round about. That is not the only time that some big swell fellows have, in after years, had to go to some poor boy and ask of him favors. But anyhow, Jephthah came and led them, and as he passed over unto the Ammonites, he lifted up his voice and said, "If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."

You know what happened. The battle raged, and by and by the smoke of warfare cleared away. Victory perched upon the banners of Jephthah’s army, and with joy and gladness he returned home amid the anxiety of his people, and as he neared his own house, out stepped his only child, a fair maiden, beside whom he had neither son nor daughter. Upon her approach Jephthah bowed down, and said, "Alas, my daughter! thou has brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." The daughter said, ’My father, if thou has opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which proceedeth out of thy mouth."

You ask, "What the result?" After postponing the matter for two months, the record closes by saying that Jephthah "did with her according to his vow which he had vowed." This meant that his name was to be wiped out and his posterity rendered impossible. But he stands today upon the pages of God’s Book a fine illustration of a man’s fulfilling his vow and making good his word.

Jephthah had not learned some things. If he had had one of our modern lawyers, he could have turned fool for awhile and had some alienist to sit on his case and declare him insane. But no such chicanery and camouflage had been thought of. In the New Testament, we have the story of Herod the tetrarch. He had married his brother Philip’s wife and had been condemned by John the Baptist. His ancestry was as mean as the devil could wish. Their hands had been dipped into the blood of their fellows, but they had great respect for their word. At a great birthday dinner, his step-daughter, Salome, danced in his presence and greatly delighted him. He was so enraptured that he promised with all oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. Prompted and coached by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of that preacher, John the Baptist." Old Herod did not suspect anything of that kind. He had forgotten all about John’s criticism. Men can do that, but women, never. He had made a pledge, and a vow.

Now Herod is up against this: he must either kill all innocent man or he must break his word. What shall he do about it? What would you have done? Here is the sequel: Herod sent and had John the Baptist beheaded, rather than to go down in history and transmit the story that he went back on what he said. I fancy that even God admired the high regard old Herod had for his word. When a couple march down the aisle to be united in the sacred relationships of matrimony; when they come in the presence of proper authority and stand under the sacred arch where the orange blossoms kiss the brow of beauty and pledge themselves to live together the remnant of their days, a sacred vow has been made.

How are such treated in this country? Too often it is counted as the proverbial scrap of paper, and any little kind of excuse will be used for a separation. The failure to keep these vows is a stroke at the very foundation of our civilization. Instead of the characters who thus break their vows being relegated to the background and humiliated, it seems to galvanize them into respectability, and they shine forth with a greater luster than ever before. A woman divorced, if not too old, has a better chance to get married than some who have lived in single blessedness for many years. When anybody comes in response to the gospel invitation, and acknowledges Jesus Christ as the Son of God, he has made the most sacred vow known to man. By that act he pledges, promises, and vows to God the remnant of his days to be consecrated unto His service. How many do you know who have thus made that vow, and today are back in the weak and beggarly elements of the earth? How many have grown cold and indifferent and have brought reproach upon the name of the Christ whom they publicly acknowledged? The trouble today with the church of God is not a lack of membership, but it is a lack of fidelity and loyalty on the part of those who pledged themselves unto the cause of Jesus Christ. There are enough Christians to be the light of the world, which cannot be hid, if they would only cling together and work at the job. Some of us are Christians, nominally, but not in reality. As we have, therefore, entered into this relationship, that pledge not only means a devotion to God, but my vow means all obligation to my fellows as well. This is a partnership business, and if we will but walk in the light, as He is in the light, we will have fellowship one with another assured of the fact that the blood of His Son will cleanse us from every sin. Therefore, Christians, as you have opportunity, "do good unto all men, but especially unto those who are of the household of faith."

If one of my brethren is in business, and a man not a Christian in the same business next door, and if I can get the same deal with my brother as I can from the one who is not, my obligation is to trade with him who is of the household of faith. And I do that. But I am not going to pay my brother all exorbitant price. I am not going to be out more money in order to accommodate him. If he cannot run his business on a parallel with the others, he has no right to expect my trade. So then, I believe it to be the duty of Christians to participate in a joint program for the advancement of one another in all the affairs of life. I would like to see a closer tie and the bond of unity made stronger among us. I believe that my vow unto God imposes these things upon me. But I must close. I wonder if there are any here who have never made that vow, but who now have the courage to pledge themselves and their all to the Lord Jesus Christ? Bring all you have and place it upon the altar, use it for the glory of God, the advancement of His cause, and for your ultimate salvation. If you will do that, it is a great privilege of mine, and a pleasure genuine, to extend to you the gospel call again.