Today, people have a very hard time keeping their word. In days gone by, your word was your bond. In the society we live in, there has been little importance on what we speak. Politicians today can say anything they want and many never call them on it, when they are called on certain things, they just say, “I misspoke about that.” Back in the day, a lie was a lie and that was it. Whatever happened to your word being a vow, or a bond of what you really meant to take place?
One thing my father taught me about life was that I need to be respectful and to tell the truth. Lying was not a part of my life, when I said I would, it meant that I was committed to what I spoke. In today’s society, people will look you in the eye and tell you they will so something and never even intend to honor their word.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a vow by definition is a solemn promise or assertion; specifically: one by which a person is bound to an act, service or condition. A solemn promise or assertion which one is bound to an act, this is a great term used in marriage. Actually, a vow is a commitment.
Let’s look at the marriage vows I use in the weddings I perform. Do you (man) take woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to support and love her for life? Do you solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you will be faithful to her for the remainder of your life? If so, answer I will.
To the woman: Woman do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor and obey him? Do you solemnly pledge before God and these witnesses that you will be his faithful wife until you are separated by death? If so, answer I will.
Can you see these vows are a commitment before God and before witnesses? Words used in these vows such as; support, obey, honor, love and faithful, are words of commitment. In today’s society, commitment is not a great commodity. Let’s look at some other vows used in a marriage ceremony, words like cherish, provide for and protect. Are we seeing these things honored today in the marriages that are performed? Is this a reason that people are not getting married and choosing to live together? I believe that reason is Commitment.
This is part one of a three part series.
