Ecclesiastes 5 taught in May 2018

 

Ecclesiastes 5

The word Ecclesiastes is derived from a Greek translation of the Hebrew word Qohelet. This refers to a person who taught people. The teacher in Ecclesiastes is aware of the world. His teaching concerns contemporary theology compared to the concerns of life. He is a practical theologian who reflects on the ways of God in the world in order to instruct the people.

Ecclesiastes is best known for the phrase “All is vanity.” This translates to “All is breath”, which is a metaphor for the incomprehensibility and unreliability of life. The teacher states this 38 times concerning a wide array of human experiences and situations.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer 

the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Ecclesiastes 5:1

To guard your steps is to order devoutly our thoughts, words, looks, and gestures. So that we will not be guilty of irreverence towards God, silliness towards ourselves, and sin towards other people.

Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:2

 We are to consider our words before we speak. What we say to God comes from the heart, do not let your tongue out run your thoughts. Thoughts are the same as words to God. We should think and speak to God considering his greatness and show him the respect he deserves.

A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

Many words in worship of God will make us the sacrifice of fools. People who believe their sacrifices are acceptable to God when they are not obedient to God. Confused dreams are a sign busyness which fills the mind. Many words used in prayer are a sign of folly filling the heart.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

Be committed in keeping vows. A vow is a bond we are not obligated to do, but we have obligated ourselves to do it whether it is honoring God or serving his interest. Do what is promised. Otherwise you are tricking God by playing the fool and God has no pleasure in fools.

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Ecclesiastes 5:7

The way to not be dismayed at signs from heaven or afraid of idols of the heathen is to fear God as king of the world.

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

Set God before you and you will not be dismayed at corruption in government, the oppression of the poor, or the perversion of religion. A good person will be troubled by these things but no man, or government, or religion is perfect. There will always be people to act corruptly. The Bible states that God will call the corrupt and wicked to account.

Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

¹¹ As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵ Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
    that they can carry in their hands.

¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?
¹⁷ All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

The teacher has shown in previous chapters that many things in life which we hold dear are meaningless. Things such as pleasure, gaiety, fine works, honor, power, and royal dignity. With riches we believe if only there is a little more we will be satisfied. This is a mistake. How ever much it is, it will never be enough. We are not happier hording wealth than by spending it. The abundance of the earth is for everyone. Those with wealth should be good stewards of what God has given and give to the poor. If you are wealthy there are more employees to watch over and more guest to entertain. There will be more people chasing after your wealth.

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰ They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

The teacher believes the way to live is to use what we have to serve God, to do good to others, and use it to comfort ourselves and our families. We are not to indulge the lust of the flesh but to soberly and modestly use what we are given. Life is a gift from God so spend time serving God with gladness and joy. Then we will forget the troubles of the past because God will give us happiness in the present.