The Sacrifice Of Fools Series

Ron Blue tells the story of a wealthy father, who took his son on a trip to the country to show his son how poor people can be. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from the trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”

“It was great, Dad.”

“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.

“Oh yeah,” said the son.

“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.

The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon.

“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond sight. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, but they have their friends to protect them.”

With this, the boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are” (Ron Blue, Faith-based Family Finances, Tyndale, 2008, pp. 29-30; www.PreachingToday.com).

True wealth comes from the right attitude, not the right amount of money you have. So how can you learn enjoy life despite your financial situation? How can you find joy in life despite its hardships? How can you rejoice even in your toilsome labor? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ecclesiastes 5, Ecclesiastes 5, where the Bible answers this question in a way that you might not expect.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words (ESV).

Just as extreme busyness causes people to dream, excessive words turn people into fools. So listen, more than you speak, especially when you go to the place of worship.

Jesus said, “When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

You don’t have to say a lot when you talk to God. In fact, the less you say, the better, because a lot of words can get you into trouble. John Bunyan once said, “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without heart” (John Bunyan, Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 2; www.PreachingToday.com). Empty words like empty promises invite God’s judgment, so be careful what you say to God.

Some people think God will bless them more if they make a lot of promises to Him, but Solomon calls such promises “the sacrifice of fools.” Such people “are doing evil,” Solomon says, because they rarely keep those promises. Shoot! People fail to keep the promises they make to themselves every new year.

Just a few years ago, (November 2018), NPR and The Marist Poll conducted a survey and discovered that half of all American adults make New Year’s resolutions. Mostly, they promise themselves to exercise more, but most of them give up as early as mid-January.

Google trends shows that searches for topics related to exercise and weight loss spike right around January 1 each year. Almost 11% of all gym memberships for the entire year are sold in January—greater than any other month.

Then on the third Thursday of January exercise activities dip below the four-week average. And the first uptick in fast food eating and the first downtick in exercise activity happens in early February, just 40 days into the new year” (James Emery White, “Quitting Day” Crosswalk.Com, 1-31-19; www.PreachingToday.com).

People fail to keep the promises they make even to themselves. That’s why Solomon goes on to say in verse 4…

Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow (ESV).

Keep your promises to God. In fact…

Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? (ESV)