Ecclesiastes 5:1-20
The Attitude of Worship!
(Because of time constraint and emphasis, I only used the first seven verses. I completed the rest and had them in the notes for the church members to do further study.)
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners except to see them with their eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; when he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil— just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Introduction –Short film “James 3”
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/short-film-from-dg
The Attitudes of My Worship 1-7
Coming into the presence of God is a privilege & honor. It should never be taken lightly!
Too often; worship becomes man driven, mouth driven, me driven with a “Ok God, Bless Me!” mentality. We are the unholy coming before the holy, the unrighteous before the Righteous, the creature before the Creator!
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God;
1. Walk cautiously! Approach God carefully…His way! No filth or sin allowed. This is His day, His time. Approach Him with thanksgiving!
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil (sin).
2. Listen carefully! Listen to God’s Word…& respond appropriately. Fools worship is meaningless and sin!
Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. (For God is in heaven and you on earth); therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
3. Speak sensibly! Be careful what you promise God! We are finite standing in awe of the Infinite! Behave accordingly. Don’t make big dreams and plans in God’s name and then not keep them. Don’t over commit yourself and then bail our on God. You are a witness, both good and bad, for God.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.
4. Act decisively! Do NOT break a vow before God. Better to not have made it than to make one & not keep it. Don’t make excuses!
Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity.
5. Live faithfully! God will hold you accountable both here & hereafter!
But fear God.
6. Love relentlessly! Demonstrate godly fear and respect for the Almighty One who redeemed you!
Ecclesiastes 12:13a-Fear God and keep His commandments
Proverbs 1:7- The fear of the Lord is…but fools despise w & instruct
Psalm 111:10-The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and good understanding all who do the commandments.
Matthew 10:28-fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
1 Peter 2:17-Honor all; Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Illustration – Worshipping in the Garbage Pits
Imagine a town built atop an active landfill. That is “Garbage City” in Cairo, Egypt, longtime home to an impoverished, marginalized community of Coptic Christians for whom life is only going to get harder.
The so-called Zabbaleen have been the trash collectors of Cairo for generations. The fathers and their sons go out into the city and collect the garbage in beat-up pickup trucks or donkey-drawn carts. They bring it back to their community, where the women meticulously sort through all of it. They recycle an incredible amount, as much as 80 percent, selling whatever is salvageable. Particularly poor families rifle through the trash for food to eat. They have created a complex, labor-intensive process for getting the most out of what other people throw away.
The Christians of Egypt have been historically repressed, and the Zabbaleen are a potent symbol of their station. They were pushed to the outskirts of the city hard up against the Moqattam Mountain. When the authorities — typically — tried to obstruct the building of a church, the Zabbaleen dug out worship space in the adjoining caves. With its huge amphitheater that can seat thousands, the “Cave Church” is now a tourist attraction. It is magnificent and spiritually vital, built on the faith of the humble.
It was during his stint in Harlem in 1930, among a shunned but vibrant Christian community, that the great German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer began to see things “from below.” There is no other vantage point from Garbage City. Everyone there must instinctively understand the lines of our vintage Christmas carol, “Why lies He in such mean estate / Where ox and ass are feeding?”
Asked by the Voice of America about the future of Garbage City a few weeks ago, resident Adel Gad el-Rab said, “We are the garbage collectors, but we live on a mountain of faith.”
The Afflictions of Our Government 8-9
Solomon warns us that injustices will be done from our man-driven organizations. Why are we surprised when we see corruption exposed in our communities, schools, governments and churches? Sadly, oppression begins from the top and trickles down. Solomon implies government fraud here but it comes in most all groups. The oxymoron, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help” is never more true than today. High officials in government watch out for each other. There are few who truly desire to help others without benefitting from it themselves. Is it any wonder that few people trust the government? In verse 9, it appears that Solomon states that government is a necessary evil. Ah, but it won’t be that way when Jesus sets up His kingdom!
The Burden of Your Possessions 10-17
Literally, you can never have enough (v. 10)! A recent survey revealed that most people believe they would be satisfied if they won five million dollars in the lottery. Honestly, they would still want more! The more you have, the more it costs to keep what you have (v. 11). Uncle Sam always wants his fair share come April 15. Notice in verses 12-14 that the common man who labors daily is able to sleep at night while the rich man has insomnia. Is it because the wealthy worries about his riches or is simply afraid of losing what he has? After all, if he is not careful, he will have nothing to pass down to his son. In verses 15-17, Solomon seems to be quoting Job 1:21 when he says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb. And naked shall I return.” Guess what folks? You leave it ALL behind when you die! And you will never know how your progeny will spend it! Money and possessions are hebel…poof! They’re meaningless and grasping the wind!
One final note on wealth: Wealth can be a curse if you don’t know how to honor God with it. Wealth can bring a joyless existence plus a sorrow of the heart plus a sickness of the soul plus conflict in the family which equals a miserable life! Is it worth it? Store your lasting treasures in heaven!
The Principles of Godly Living 18-20
Solomon reveals that the joy of true life comes from God! We should live each day as a gift from God…because it is a gift from Him! Whether you have been blessed with wealth immeasurable or little in terms of possessions don’t focus those “things.” Nor should you contemplate exclusively on the tomorrow you are never promised! Live in the joy, passion and pleasure of a relationship with Him TODAY!
