Take Your Commitments Seriously
Numbers 6:1-15
When my mother was deep in the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease, I promised my dad that I would never place mother in a nursing home. At the time, I had no inkling of what lay ahead; therefore, it was an easy commitment to make. I loved my mother, and the promise seemed right. I kept my promise to my dad and the time that I spent with Mother was wonderful. My mother died a few months after my dad’s death. The next year, my wife died unexpectedly. If my wife had died before my mother, there would have been no way that I could have kept my promise to my dad.
Many Christians make commitments so casually that breaking them doesn’t seem to bother them. Others treat their commitments as sacred. Such was the case with those Israelites who took the vows to become Nazirites. Nazirites could be either male or female. It could be a temporary commitment or long-term. In some cases, the parents dedicated the young child to be a Nazirite, as was true with Samson and John the Baptist.
A Nazirite was distinguished by never cutting his or her hair, abstaining from any consumption of wine or any association with anything from the grapevine. They could not touch or even view a dead body. God understood how difficult these vows were and made it possible for a Nazirite to continue in the vows, if he or she was contaminated through an unavoidable circumstance. Their lives were not easy. Many Israelites, who were jealous of the special status of the Nazirites tried to tempt them to break their vows.
Today, none of us take the measures taken by the Nazirites, but our vows of service are no less treasured by God. God wants us to honor our vows to serve him. There is rejoicing in heaven when we are faithful to our commitments. God also understands and has made provisions for us to continue when we fall short. He sent his son Jesus to redeem us. We can repent of our failures, pray for forgiveness, and begin again.
Recently, I attended a joyful memorial service for one of God’s saints. She served Him faithfully for 99 years. She showered everyone who knew her with love and kindness. It was a joy to be in her presence. Most of us begin our walk with Jesus with great intentions to remain faithful and to honor our commitments. We begin as bright stars, but slowly the light fades and we lose our way. Although our failures grieve God, there is great rejoicing when we confess our sins and renew our commitments of faithful service.
Carnell– Lessons in the ETB series for the winter quarter are being written by Mitch Carnell, member of First Baptist Church, Charleston.