Now, however, they promise once more to observe the Sabbath year.
The rest of the covenant concerned the amount to be contributed for the service of God.

They agreed to pay one-third of a shekel each year towards the temple service, and to bring by turn the wood required for the sacrifices, beside giving God, regularly and conscientiously, the first-fruits of all they had.
This was the solemn covenant to which were fastened so many seals, this was the agreement by which they bound themselves to the service of God.
As they went home, and shook the dust off their heads, and took off their sacks, they went home pledged to obey and to love their God.
Which of us will follow their example?
Who will bind himself to God?
Who will put his seal to the document, and promise to serve and obey the Master who died for him?
Will you?
Is it not right, is it not wise to pull up at times and to look at our life, at what it has been, and at what it might have been?
What about prayer?
Has it been always earnest, heartfelt, true?
What about our Bible reading?
Has it been as regular, as profitable as it might have been?
Do we not feel we have come short in the past, and that we should like to do better in the time to come?
What about sin, that besetting sin of ours, so often indulged in, so little fought against?
Are we going on like this for ever, beaten by sin, overcome and defeated?
Should we not like to leave the old careless days behind, and for the future to fight manfully against the world, the flesh, and the devil?
What about work for God?
Have we done all that we could for His service?
Have we given Him the tenth of our money?
Have we consecrated to Him our time and our talents?
Do we not feel we should like to do more for the Master in time to come?
It is a good plan to get alone and quiet for a time, and taking a piece of paper, to write down all we feel has been wrong in the past, all we mean to do in the future.

Then let us sign our name to it, put the date at the bottom, fold it carefully up, put it away, let no one see it but God, it is a covenant between us and Him.

He will give us grace to keep it if we only ask Him.
Will you try this plan this very night?
Then you will open your eyes to-morrow morning with the recollection, 'I am the Lord's; I have given myself to Him; I am His now by my own agreement; I am pledged to His service.' Lord, make me faithful, keep me humble, keep me prayerful, give me grace and courage and strength! For 'better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.'.