Something that we may think a lot about as Christians are promises, both ones that we make to God and those which we make to others.

This is often a concern, as many Christians are encouraged by those who care about them to make promises to God. For example, one may be encouraged to promise to give a certain amount of money, save their purity, or do a certain good deed. These acts are definitely wonderful things to do, and there is certainly nothing wrong with make a firm decision to do them.

If we read the Bible though, we find that making a vow or promise to God is extremely serious, and God even goes so far as to say it is better not to. This is because if for some reason it is impossible to keep this vow, we may face deep guilt, judgement, or shame that could have been avoided.

James 5:12 -  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Jesus Christ Himself says it is wise never to make promises because we can not control the future, so it is impossible for us to guarantee we will do something.

Matthew 5:33-37 - Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

What about promises to other people? If we read the words above again, nothing is said at all that makes it sound like this applies only to God. If anything, we are likely to again fall into the same predicament, as we can not control whether we are able to always do something for another person, and we can fall into shame and condemnation from them by not keeping our promise.

Certainly, it is not, I believe, a sin to make a promise. God makes promises and accepts them from others, but it is not wise. Even in the Old Testament when it was normal to make sacred vows to God, the Lord says that there is nothing wrong with not making promises, and to be very careful when doing so.

Deuteronomy 23:21-22 - When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.

Ecclesianstes 5:1-7 -Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

So, it is better not to make promises or vows to God. Even when those who love us or are godly pressure us to do so, for our own sake, it is better to kindly and peacefully refuse than to bring condemnation upon ourselves because we could not control something.