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Q. Are promises made to God valid when made under duress?

A. Promises made in times of intense anguish often fade from the memory once the anguish has been alleviated. God, a man might pray, if you'll only bring my wife back home, I promise I'll never abuse her again. Or, Lord, if you help me find a job, I promise I'll never touch a drop of liquor again. Or, Father, if you'll only get this plane down safely, I'll devote the rest of my life to being a missionary. Just so long as we land safely. We've all heard prayers like this—or prayed them ourselves!

The problem with promises like these is that they're rarely born of conviction—they tend to be matters of convenience. We don't like to be inconvenienced, so we resort to various techniques to avoid it, even to striking an empty bargain with the Almighty. But fulfilling our part of the "bargain" can become another source of inconvenience. So payment is often rationalized into oblivion. There are exceptions. Martin Luther, after surviving an encounter with lightning, followed through on his promise and became a monk! But such men are the exception rather than the rule.

So making a deal with God is a questionable practice?

Yes, it is. But making a solemn vow, as Hannah did in her deep desire to bear a child, isn't.

What's questionable is the attitude that a promise made to the Lord is nonbinding. Better not to promise than to promise and renege; better yet to promise and perform.

Stuart Briscoe is minister-at-large for Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Adapted from The One Year Book of Devotions for Men (Tyndale, 2000) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

I thank You, Father, that You are a promise-keeping God. Give me the backbone to reflect Your character.

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