Terry Martin, from my 2008 sketchbook. Terry died last week, as graciously as he lived, honored by a thousand peers. He left a legacy of hand shaping some 80,000 surfboards. That and the simple honesty of his yes meaning yes and his no meaning no, nothing more.
Here’s one:
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”*
It’s one of the few places in the Bible where vows are discussed at all. They don’t seem to be so God-required as we might think. Rather, we tend to come up with them on our own, to add power to our resolve. But in the end, they usually only show up our weakness. And when we don’t fulfill them, we’re worse off.
Better advice might be a shortened version: “When you go to make a vow to God, don’t.”
It’s not that God doesn’t hear it; he hears everything. You want to be taken seriously? He’ll take you seriously. But when you fail, then what?
Here’s what follows: “Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?”
Noooooooooo! That’s about the most fearsome threat I can think of.
The work of our hands . . . metaphor for EVERYTHING WE DO. To experience frustration with it is, well, frustrating, exasperating, and mega-discouraging. It can make everything seem futile. If anything, the work of my hands needs God’s help, not God’s opposition.
So what about this?
I’ve made vows. Not so much anymore as I know how I am . . . zealous at the beginning but then, encountering obstacles, my resolve weakens. In time, it’s all shot full of holes.
Then I appeal to another aspect to the All-hearing All-seeing: MERCY. And though he takes no pleasure in fools, maybe he’ll make exception for just this one, once again.
Jesus’ approach was simpler, “Just say Yes or No and mean it; anything else (like a vow) just messes it up.”**
So there it is: Just get back to work, don’t say too much, deliver more than you promise and you’ll be on the safe side. Let God, who takes no pleasure in hindering you, bless the work of your hands.
It can make all the difference.
___________________________
*Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, **Matthew 5:33-37 (my paraphrase)
Next: Wisdom Is What Wisdom Does. Coming Thursday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
12:45 pm
Hi Hyatt….. you very special man.
I love your blank slates and they always seem to come at an appropriate time……..
You make me think.
Hope all is well I hope to see you soon. I need to come visit….
j
1:35 pm
Being on vacation in Italy and moving at a much slower pace, the idea of letting my yes be yes, and no,no, seems to resonate more than normal. Maybe because I’m not running so fast tying to get everything done and promising to do more than I possibly can. Nancy and I miss our group and look forward to connecting on our return.
Ciao, Mark
4:44 pm
Good thoughts, Hyatt. It seems I used to blow a lot of hot air when I was young and naive. So many words with so little “field work” to back it all up! Now, decades later, I find my words are fewer and it’s more about being vs. analyzing/stating/promising. If I can step into my day with fewer words and more worship, and live in the light that God has apportioned to me, I’m content.
8:35 pm
Hi Hyatt!
Love the drawing of Terry!!!! Can’t stop thinking about
Candy though.
You inspired me….”Deliver more than you promised”
Barbara Mitchiner
10:52 pm
Again, your writing is timely. I did just commit to do more than I want to do, at work. Though I didn’t promise to God. I don’t have to ask, that’s cheating and I’m not fooling God. Still to “think” I can do it, God could play a part in this, if he likes, right? I mean miracles happen. If I keep saying I CAN, one day I just maybe can.
7:15 am
Love this!
9:33 am
Amen. On a separate note, not only do I always agree with and find good in the content of what you write, but the way in which you communicate makes it an absolute pleasure to be on the receiving end thereof.