THE SACRIFICE OF FOOLS
Ecclesiastes 5:1
Christians have nearly abandoned the word "fool," and replaced it with various synonyms. The reason is found in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus says, "...whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the hell of fire."
Jesus warns about something we will examine today, but Jesus' warning does not mean we should close our minds to the presence of fools in the world. Nor does he mean that the word “fool” is a swear word or obscenity, and suggest that merely enunciating the syllable fouls a Christian’s speech, which is to be with grace and not profane.
If we emphasize only the word "fool" in Jesus’ warning, we distort the actual intent of Jesus, who was talking about relationships with brethren. We might understand him better if we put sharper focus on the word "You," and consider the whole meaning of what Jesus said.
It is normal for us to believe our thinking is superior to that of others. When we are wise in our own eyes, and suspect that our brother’s thinking is flawed, we are at risk of taking notice of a speck in a brother’s eye while ignoring a beam in our own--another thing Jesus warned against.
Isn't the sin of which Jesus speaks contempt for others, criticizing and belittling them while neglecting to examine ourselves? And doesn’t that mean this sin is so serious that it may put us in danger of hell fire?
What Jesus describes is an insidious sin. Since we all typically believe our thinking is sound and the thoughts of those who disagree are defective, the same (in reverse of course) is true in the mind of the other person. “Fools” are in the eye of the beholder. We need to watch out for beams that obscure our own vision, and not be dismissive and contemptuous of others’ rights to think that their thoughts are as sound as we think ours are.
People are not fools simply because they disagree with us.
Still, the Bible repeatedly makes it plain. There are fools. How then are we to respond to Jesus’ warning?
By substituting a word like moron, idiot, or nincompoop for the word fool?
I think not. A principle is involved, not merely a forbidden word.
I. The Bible makes many references to fools, the way they think, and act. There are fools around us. It would be wrong for us to deny that fools exist, may include ourselves, and that by their Bible definition, they are likely to remain fools, and not change.
Fools are not people of low intellect. Fools are fools by choice, typified more by attitude and action than by lack of brainpower:
Various passages in the Proverbs will serve to show that there are indeed fools, and that they despise discipline, wisdom and instruction, but are nevertheless drawn to a quarrel and love to cause strife:
Proverbs 1:7 - Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:22 - Fools delight in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge.
Proverbs 10:18 - … whoever utters slander is a fool.
Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 14:7 - Leave the presence of a fool, Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
Proverbs 15:5 - A fool despises his father's instruction.
Proverbs 18:2 - A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:6-7 - A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 20:3 - It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Proverbs 26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
Proverbs 26:4-5 (NASB) - Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
II. Fools' worship is hateful to God.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 - 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.
What is “the preacher’s” meaning? Worshipers are doing evil?!
Does God reject those who worship him, even if their worship is flawed by lack of
understanding?
What is “the sacrifice of fools?”
The problem with fools is not merely that they mistakenly use some "unauthorized" procedure in their worship (although they may, as we may, err in our understanding in spite of our best efforts).
The problem with the worship of fools is that their intent is not right.
There is such a thing as vain worship!
A. Isaiah warned Judah very harshly about vain worship
Isaiah 1:11-15 - read
Isaiah 29:13-14 - read
Their hearts were not right for worship
B. Jesus recalled Isaiah's words when he rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for following traditions rather than God's commands. Matthew 15:3-9
C. Some "among you" at Corinth were called "fools" by Paul for denying the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12, 35-37
We may, while being careful to adhere to Biblical guidance, sometimes misunderstand the intent of some Biblical instruction and misapply it. We will strongly suspect that our understanding is correct and or application of the guidance is proper, and that others who see it differently are wrong. It seems that these differences are often on matters of procedure and method, particularly in relation to our public worship assemblies. One believes we must do a thing, while another believes it is allowable if we wish. One believes some other thing is a matter of choice and expediency; someone else believes it is prohibited. In the 14th chapter of his letter to the church at Rome, Paul gives clear instruction on how such incidental differences are to be resolved.
But there are some hindrances to worship that are too fundamental to be ignored--in these cases the condition of the hearts and the denial of Christ's resurrection. “The preacher” in Ecclesiastes 5:1 says the fools do not know they are doing evil. The remainder of that chapter explains that the problem is in the heart of the fool, as borne out in various manifestations.
God does not take delight it the sacrifice of fools.
III. Some cases of sacrifices offered to God that were rejected.
A. Cain's sacrifice was rejected. Gen 4:3-5 - read
The idea of some is that the word "also" in Gen 4:4 indicates that Abel gave not only a thank offering of grain, flour, or bread; but that in addition he gave a sacrificial offering to atone for his sins, and that Cain did not. Thus, Abel acknowledged that he was a sinner, and sought to be reconciled to God, against whom he had sinned.
This may or may not be correct. If the Lord had given prior instructions for the particulars of sacrifices, viz., that they must sacrifice slain animals to atone for sin, it is not revealed in the sacred record. Later on, thank offerings sometimes involved the use of slain animals; so animal sacrifices were not exclusively for the purpose of atonement for sin.
In any event, we can easily see that Abel's spirit was right toward God, but Cain's was not.
God spoke to Cain about "doing well," showing that Cain that if Cain would "do well," his countenance (fallen because of envy) would be lifted up.
Cain did not heed the Lord's admonition. Cain's way of elevating himself was to bring down one who had done better. His offering was not backed up by a life and a heart fully yielded to God.
B. Nadab and Abihu died for offering strange fire (Lev 10:1-3)
Apparently, the fire to be used was that which burned perpetually on the altar (Lev 6:13). They evidently used fire from another source.
Nadab and Abihu did not simply make a mistake in procedure. They made and tried to carry out their own plans, setting God's purposes aside.
From Lev 10:9-10 it seems they may have been intoxicated when they brought their strange fire. If so, their heart and life would not back up the reverent act of burning incense to God.
God alone knew the reasons for His design of ceremonies of the Jewish religion. He knew what each action prefigured in the grand plan of redemption by Jesus Christ. Whoever altered any part of this ceremonial looking forward to the Messiah assumed a prerogative that belongs to God alone, and was certainly guilty of offense against his Maker.
We are fools if we do not listen to the way God wants us to serve and honor Him, with hearts unpolluted by our own desires and plans.
C. Saul deviated from God's instructions at Amalek (1 Samuel 15).
The command - 1 Samuel 15:3
The action - 1 Samuel 15:9
Saul's claim to have obeyed - 1 Samuel 15:19-23
Saul was not praised for partial obedience. He had an idea he thought was superior to the ideas of God. He was going to sacrifice the sheep and cattle to God. With such sacrifices God was not pleased.
It is not that God gives no margin for error. Obeying God according to our own plans is rebellion, not error on the margins!
It exposes thinking more highly of one's self than he ought to think (Romans 12:3). In the same chapter, Paul wrote "Do not be wise in your estimation." (Romans 12:16)
IV. Fools were not confined to the Old Testament
A. Jesus was more displeased with high-faluting, self-important religious people than with Gentiles and sinners. In his scorching rebuke of them he says, "You fools and blind men." Matthew 23:17
B. The self-deluding Gentiles were no better.
Romans 1:21-23
Then and now, fools wanting to appear to obey God are vulnerable to the same danger: subordinating God's will to their own.
V. Solomon's warning (our text in Ecclesiastes 5:1)
"Guard your steps as you go the house of God."
The alternative to offering the sacrifice of fools: "Listen."
Why? "For they do not know they are doing evil."
No one can tell a fool he is wrong. A fool despises instruction and discipline, hates knowledge, causes strife, feels he is always right, and is hot-tempered. The thing such a person is least equipped to do is listen.
One need not be a fool, and thus displease the Lord. Yet one will unknowingly become a fool if he does not follow Solomon's advice, and “not know they are doing evil.”
Paul offers a warning that is almost a paraphrase of Solomon's:
Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
James also warns against worthless religion (James 1:26-27), and shows that it is not only a matter of our speech, which he calls bridling the tongue, but also a matter of the heart, mind and actions outside the framework of public worship assemblies.
What kind of sacrifice pleases God?
Romans 12:1 "I urge you...to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice."
Hebrews 13:16 "Do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
In the first Corinthian letter Paul describes his own sacrifices as appearing to be foolish, though in appearance only to those who, suspecting themselves to be “wise in Christ,” lack understanding of the true value of his sacrifices to those he brought to saving knowledge of Christ:
1 Corinthians 4:10-13 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
If we heed the words of “the preacher” in Ecclesiastes 5:1 we, like Paul, may not do what appeals most to the fancy of men, and may be regarded by them as fools.
But we will not offer the sacrifice of fools.
