Ecclesiastes 5 (NIV)
1 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. 2 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.
3 As a dream comes when there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 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? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
Riches Are Meaningless
8 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. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. 10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.
15 Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?
17 All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
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January 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
verses 1-7:
The last few days I’ve been trying to listen more when I spend time with God. It’s hard to hear — I’d rather talk about what I think is important rather than being still and listening.
verses 4-5:
I just had to repent to God that I’m ignoring a vow I made to Him a year ago. “Forgive me God! Help me to be faithful to You.”
verses 9-12 & 18-20:
There’s a delicate balance to being rich. How do we delight in the riches God has blessed us with, without letting those very riches consume us? One thing for me is to realize ‘my riches’ are really ‘God’s riches’ that He’s given me to invest for Him. I’m a steward, not the owner.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Verse 10 (Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income) reminds me of something that Craig said the other day, about how you cannot love both God and the bank.
So many wonderful insights in this chapter! I could go on and on, but I won’t.
Today I just want to remember a bit of humility. My time with God isn’t about me, it’s about Him (at least it should be). I can only hope and pray to keep my mind open to what He wants to teach me today.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
I can relate to that frustration of not being able to hear God. My thoughts can sometimes be overwhelming. I think God is just waiting for me to quit thinking before he starts. One thing about scripture that always amazes me is how it relates to life today. Even though our way of life is much different than it was in Jesus’s time. In verse 11 he talks about how goods increase, our consumption and hoarding of those goods. It makes me crazy to see how dependant we’ve become (including myself) on things that are not necessary to live a fruitful life. My neighbor Jackie asked me a wonderful question the other day, she asked what kind of fruit I was bearing, good or bad. The question made me think, what kind of person am I? It made me very aware of my thoughts, my mouth and my actions. I want to honor God and recognize every blessing that’s in my life. “Rich” or “poor” my life should be for God. Sorry for rambling, Love you all!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I was convicted just in the first few verses of Ecc 5. I am so often quick with my words and going to God with my thoughts, desires, complaints and suggestions that would make my world run more smoothky
and I am so slow to listen.
God-I am all ears. You are in heaven I am on earth so let my words be few!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Ditto for me! I so often go to God with what I think is important for us to talk about … whatever is my biggest “problem” of the moment. Sometimes that works out okay because He is generous enough to answer my immediate concerns. But many times He redirects the conversation to what He wants me to learn at that time, as long as I’m willing to listen. It’s often only later that I realize that was really the answer I most needed anyway.