SCRIPTURE FOCUS (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7) – “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. [2] 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. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. [4] When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [6] 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? [7] For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.”
I. A call to reverence (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2)
A. Be intentional (Ecclesiastes 5:1a) – “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.”
B. Remain teachable (Ecclesiastes 5:1B) – “To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.”
C. Measure your words (Ecclesiastes 5:2) – “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.”
II. A call to reality (Ecclesiastes 5:3)
A. A concern for perpetual dreamers (Ecclesiastes 5:3a) – “For a dream comes with much business…”
“Business” – the Hebrew word conveys the idea of scrambling work, meaningless toil, hard tasks, empty motion
B. A correction of constant talkers (Ecclesiastes 5:3b) –“…and a fool’s voice with many words.”
III. A call to resolve (4-7)
A. We must keep our commitments to God (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) – “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
B. God will discipline us for unfaithfulness (Ecclesiastes 5:6) – “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?”
C. God is interested in faithfulness, not fantasy (Ecclesiastes 5:7) – “For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.”