CHAPTER 5

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Here, the subject is REAL WORSHIP. Solomon mentions three different things about how we should worship.

Be SURE of your PLACE. (Vs 1)
When worshipping God, it is more desirable to LISTEN than to speak. Yes, communications is a two-way street. We talk, God listens; God talks we listen. That's real communication.

However, when we are coming before God to give Him our adoration, we should have the attitude that reflects HIM as the omniscient God, and we as His servants. Be ready to HEAR and be OBEDIENT. That's a sure PLACE or "footing" when worshipping God.

Be SURE of your WORDS. (vss 2-3)
Offering vain and repetitious worship is "rash" speaking. The heart should speak with careful consideration that God ALREADY knows everything going on in our lives.

A dream tonight is simply the reflection of the "business" of today. Sometimes dreams get rather mixed up because the brain is a stockpile of information. But, generally speaking dreams reflect what's going on in our lives.

And so does our speaking (vs 3b).

Keep in mind that the Bible says the "fool" doesn't really BELIEVE in God (Ps. 14:1, Ps. 53:1). And in Christians, it is the sin of UNbelief that is our biggest problem (Heb. 12:1).

With that in mind, it is a reflection of UNbelief when we approach God, tell Him all that's happening in our lives, and then tell Him what we need. It is more advisable to approach God realizing he already knows, and asking HIM what we should do.

Be SURE you DO what you promise. (vss 4-6)
Years ago, before I was a pastor, I got a raise. The raise changed the paycheck to $600.00 per week (gross pay). So, I thanked God for the raise, and promised him $60.00 per week in offerings. But when I got my first paycheck after the raise, it was only $535.50 - after taxes, etc. So, I paid offerings of $53.50. The next month, the carburetor went out on my truck, and I had to repair it. Of course I did the work myself - bought a repair kit and installed it. But the cost of the repair kit was $26.00. Exactly the difference between what I promised God and what I paid Him.

It is better to NOT promise, than to promise and not KEEP it! (vs 5)

And, we can't go back and say it was an "error" (verse 6). God is listening, He knows the truth.

So, here's a conclusion that Solomon offers about worship:
We can offer many words and even vows, but we should approach God with reverential awe (verse 7).

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Two things cause great problems in government: oppression of the poor and corrupted officials. Both occur, and we are not to be appalled at their happening. A government is only as good as the people in it. And we must remember: ALL people are sinners.

We are not to stand by idly and watch while certain officials take advantage of their position. We are to appeal to higher officials. And remember, there is ONE Who is higher than the officials. Let us also appeal to Him.

9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

The produce of the earth is for all men. Even kings cannot live without food. Farming is a very important occupation.

In the utilization of farming, and the regulation of it, none should take undue advantage of another.

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

It seems that we humans always want MORE. However, neither monetary increase nor increase of possessions will SATISFY.

The more a person increases in money and possessions, the more his status necessitates paying others and feeding others. He must have employees to maintain what he has. And his only "good" received is seeing those whom he employs using up that which he has. Thus, the rich man must continue to try and gain MORE.

As Solomon says, it is "vanity" - or, unsatisfactory in fulfillment.

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

The worker who labors for his food. His sleep is sweet whether he obtains a little or a lot.

But those who are rich are constantly concerned with how to maintain what they have. Their riches cause a lack of sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Another problem the rich man faces is: To whom shall he LEAVE it. Death is certain, and the thought becomes a constant concern (verse 17).

Now, Solomon was rich, yet he obviously wasted no time concerned with these three problems: How to maintain, How to get more, or To whom should he leave it.

Therefore, Solomon is not saying that one shouldn't BE rich. But he IS saying that one should not allow his life to be CONTROLLED by money or possessions. Let us go back to verse 7, and remember to live life in awesome reverence for God. And that is precisely Solomon's conclusion in the following verses.
Eccl 5:18-20 18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Enjoy life as a gift from God (verse 18). If one is given riches, then he should realize that as a gift from God also.

At the end, upon death, we shall face God. In that day, it will not be whether we were rich or poor that will matter. What WILL matter is that we had JOY IN CHRIST!

CHAPTER 6

Four perplexing thoughts are presented and a general, yet very useful conclusion is offered.

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Some people are given riches, but do not have the wisdom from God to utilize them properly.

Possibly, these riches were "handed down" (through inheritance). But the receiver was not taught (or would not learn) how to utilize this wonderful gift correctly.

3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

Another person might have many children and live a long and fruitful life. But when he dies, no one cares enough to give him a decent burial.

6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Another person might live an extra long life (2000 years would be extra LONG!). But this person sees no "good" in his long life.

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

A fourth perplexing thought: man labors all his life, yet he is never SATISFIED. It seems that man is more fulfilled with what he has in SIGHT, because his desires are never totally filled.

Solomon concludes each of these four perplexing thoughts with the conclusion that "..this is also vanity..."

Now Solomon gives a very useful conclusion.

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

We are what we are because God has made us that way. And no one can "contend" with why God made us as we are. (verse 10)

Man was created to have fellowship with God. When man sinned and broke that fellowship, God gave certain consequences. One of those consequences is that our desires are never fulfilled in this earth! There are many things in the earth that increase desire, but none of them will satisfy the soul! (verse 11)

Indeed, "WHO" can tell us how to live life the way we should in order that we receive satisfaction from it? "WHO" can tell us what our end will be after the "shadow" of life is over?

ONLY GOD!

Solomon's conclusion, then, is that man should turn to GOD for REAL LIFE!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.