Reverence in Worship

“Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and approach to listen
rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools;
for they do not know they are doing evil.”

“Do not be quick with your mouth
or impulsive in your heart to bring up a matter in the presence of God.
For God is in heaven and you are on the earth;
therefore let your words be few.”

“For the dream comes through much effort,
and the voice of a fool through many words.”

The Weight of Vows

“When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it;
for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!”

“It is better that you do not vow
than vow and not pay.
Do not let your speech cause you to sin
and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake.”

“Why should God be angry because of your speech and destroy the work of your hands?
For many dreams and many words are meaningless.
Fear God.”

The Reality of Oppression

“If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province,
do not be shocked at the sight;
for one official watches over another official,
and there are higher officials over them.”

“After all, a king who cultivates the field
is beneficial to the land.”

The Vanity of Wealth

“The one who loves money will not be satisfied with money,
nor the one who loves abundance with its income.
This too is futility.”

“When good things increase, those who consume them increase.
So what is the advantage to their owners
except to look on?”

“The sleep of the laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much;
but the full stomach of the rich person
does not allow him to sleep.”

The Tragedy of Hoarded Wealth

“There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun:
wealth being hoarded by its owner to his detriment.”

“When that wealth was lost through bad business
and he had fathered a son,
then there was nothing to support him.”

“As he came naked from his mother’s womb,
so he will return as he came.
He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor
that he can carry in his hand.”

“This also is a sickening tragedy:
exactly as a person is born, so will he die.
So what is the advantage to him who labors for the wind?”

“All his life he also eats in darkness
with great frustration, sickness, and anger.”

The Gift of Contentment

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:
to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor
in which he labors under the sun
during the few years of his life which God has given him;
for this is his reward.”

“Furthermore, as for every person to whom God has given riches and wealth,
He has also given him the opportunity to enjoy them
and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;
this is the gift of God.”

“For he will not often call to mind the years of his life,
because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”

---

Context and Meaning

Ecclesiastes 5 contains some of the most sobering warnings in Scripture:

• Be careful how you approach God.
• Be slow to speak in His presence.
• Do not make promises you will not keep.
• Worship must be real, humble, and reverent.

Then the chapter pivots to wealth — exposing the lie that money satisfies:

• Those who love money never have enough.
• Wealth increases consumers, not joy.
• The rich struggle to sleep while the laborer rests.
• Hoarded wealth destroys the soul.
• Death strips all wealth away.

Solomon warns:
You can have money without joy, but not joy without God.

Key Themes:

1. Approach God with Reverence: Listening is better than speaking (v. 1–3).
2. The Seriousness of Vows: God takes promises seriously (v. 4–7).
3. Do Not Be Shocked by Injustice: Bureaucracy and power structures often corrupt (v. 8–9).
4. Money Cannot Satisfy: Wealth does not satisfy craving — it increases it (v. 10).
5. More Wealth, More Problems: More increase, more consumption (v. 11).
6. The Gift of Rest: The laborer sleeps; the rich worry (v. 12).
7. The Tragedy of Greed: Hoarding destroys the hoarder (v. 13–17).
8. Contentment Is a Gift from God: Joy in simple things is divine grace (v. 18–20).

Reflection and Impact

Ecclesiastes 5 presses deeply into the spiritual condition of the heart:

• True worship requires humility – echoes James 1:19; Matthew 6:7.
• God hates careless vows – aligns with Deuteronomy 23:21–23.
• Oppression is predictable in a fallen world – Psalm 82, Habakkuk 1.
• Money destroys those who love it – 1 Timothy 6:9–10.
• We bring nothing into the world, nor take anything out – 1 Timothy 6:7.
• Contentment is supernatural – Philippians 4:11–13.
• Joy is God’s gift, not money’s reward – James 1:17.

This chapter invites readers to slow down, reverence God deeply, hold money loosely, and delight in God’s daily provision.

Application

• Guard Your Steps in Worship: Come before God to listen, not to impress.
• Speak Few Words: Humility recognizes God’s greatness and our smallness.
• Honor Your Commitments: Integrity reflects the fear of the Lord.
• Stop Chasing More: Wealth will never quiet the hunger of the soul.
• Learn to Rest: Only God grants peace to the heart.
• Enjoy God’s Gifts: Receive food, work, rest, and relationships with gratitude.
• Reject the Lie of Self-Sufficiency: Wealth cannot protect you from death — or give meaning to life.

Closing Thought

Ecclesiastes 5 lifts our eyes beyond empty religion and restless greed.
It calls us to worship with reverence, live with integrity, and receive life with gratitude.

Meaning is not found in more words or more wealth —
but in a heart that fears God and rests in His gifts.

“This is the gift of God.”