Solomon recommends that we attend the house of God (v1-3)– “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.”
We should not come to God carelessly or proudly, but prudently – with carefulness and foresight.
Solomon has spent many verses talking about the world and the meaninglessness of it, but he now moves to the house of God. Let us remember that it was Solomon who actually built the temple even though his father David wanted to and provided much of the material. The temple was an amazing sight to behold. It was absolutely beautiful but we must remember that it was God’s house and the place where he would meet with His people. It was a place of worship. Worship is not just when we come to the house of God it is our daily walk, our total lives 24/7. Paul says in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” ‘Service’ can be translated ‘worship’. Worship is not just coming to church nor is it just singing praise songs and hymns. That is but a small part of worship, we should be worshiping all day every day.
Solomon asks us to come near to hear rather than speak without thinking. In 1 Samuel 15:22 we read, “…. To obey is better than sacrifice” to obey means to listen and obey. Jesus said we should be very careful who we call a fool (Matthew 5:22). It is strong language therefore, for Solomon in calling people ‘fools’. One commentator says that those who fall into the faults condemned are fools.
Solomon continues by telling us not to be rash with what we say and to let our words be few. He gives his reason that God’s in heaven and hears what we say. We need to be very careful what we say before God and we would be more wise to hear what God says to us. Compare the priests of Baal and Elijah at Mt. Carmel recorded in 1 Kings 18. The priests of Baal used many words but Elijah was concise and to the point.
Solomon utters an interesting phrase, ‘a dream comes through much activity and a fool’s voice known by his many words’. The commentary by Trapp is very relevant in the context of these verses, “For as it is not the loudness of a preacher’s voice, but the weight and holiness of his matter, and the spirit of the preacher, which moves a wise and intelligent hearer, so it is not the labour of the lips, but the travail of the heart that prevails with God.”
In verses 4-7 he warns us that we should keep our vows made to God, for God has no pleasure in fools. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Again, we are warned about our many words and carelessness before God. He urges us to fear God. We need to remember that God takes our words, our promises, seriously and we are the ones who will feel hurt if we don’t. It is sin not keep our vows and our failure requires repentance and we should seek to honour God. Perhaps the greatest failure is keeping our marriage vows as those are the ones we still call ‘vows’.
This book is very practical and Solomon reminds us of our responsibility to do something about justice, particularly oppressing the poor and perverting the course of justice. Those in high positions are guilty of corruption and greed. He says we should not be surprised at its occurrence. (v8,9) It is not difficult to see this as it often pervades society. Even the king is dependent for his food from the fields.
Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6 :1-10, “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,useless wrangling’s of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
A few years ago there was a song , I think from a musical, ‘Money is the root of all evil ….’ Wrong! Not ‘money’ but the love of it. It couldn’t be clearer – a root of all evil; temptation; snare (trap) destruction; pierced with many sorrows.
Paul continues v11-19 ….. “ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing …. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
From the dangers of wealth and the love of money, Solomon moves to the dissatisfaction that comes through amassing wealth (v10-12) whether it is silver or the interest gained on it. The more you have the more there are who want a share of it. One writer says, “If anything is worse than the addiction money brings, it is the emptiness it leaves.” Solomon states that the rich have difficulty in sleeping. He has more to worry about than the ordinary working man. Sam Gordon said, “It’s good to have the things that money can buy, provided you don’t lose the things that money can’t buy.”
Solomon reminds us that striving after the world’s wealth is not only useless because it does not satisfy (v10) but even if we could have it, there would be no profit in it if in doing so we lost our souls (“What shall it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his own soul?) (Mark 8:36)
Remember the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 – when he had plenty, his friends were plenty but when his goods ran out, so did they and he was left destitute.
Not only is wealth dissatisfying but it is uncertain (v13-17). Solomon, who had every reason to be able speak about riches, warned his people that riches cause hurt, but they can perish through misfortune. Not only that but it is temporary, we can’t take it with us when we die. We come with nothing and that’s how we leave. How different to the spiritual riches we have in Christ which tells us that we can lay up treasure in heaven.
How sad that the wealth which we hope will bring enjoyment can lead us to a lonely and sad existence, even bringing anger to the situation.
How often have we read about those who won the lottery? Their lives were spoiled by their millions – marriages broken, friendships ruined. Many thought they would have no worries, but in fact it created more. I read of a man who won £1.4m, later he said he was bored and wanted to go back to work, “There were times when I wish I had never seen the money, life is such a drag now that I can afford anything I want. I don’t have to scrimp and save, everything is too easy. Life has lost its buzz.” In two months his delight had turned to despair.
I read of a man who won, then it transpired that his religion prevented him from gambling, thus he then had the problem of what to do about it as his religious leaders condemned him. Another man, divorced from his wife but his ex-wife wanted a share. She then proceeded to disclose his awful character in the press. Another man refused to split his winnings with the other members of the syndicate. I read that Marjorie Proops who was a member of the Royal Commission which recommended the lottery in 1978 said, ‘Lord forgive us, If we knew what I know now I would never have recommended it.’
Solomon adds a similar refrain which he has done before (2;24) “It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.” (v18-20)
He rightly recognises that all that we have is a gift from God. This is includes the ability, health and strength to work and to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
