Undivided - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

INTRO

Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth?

In Winigan - Just good “simple people”

Sometimes we talk to much.

Today we find ourselves looking at how we talk to the Lord.

More than that how we interact with God entirely

The preacher shifts the focus from the board room, from the monotonous moments to the sanctuary.

He is looking now not at how we work but how we worship.

We named the church Coram Deo

That we stop dividing our lives into 'spiritual' and 'everyday'.

Instead, every action becomes an offering to Him.

Whether you're a teacher, a dry-waller, or a pastor - your whole life is spiritual.

In essence, to live Coram Deo is to see our entire life as a response to God's loving gaze.

Imagine a world where worship isn't fragmented by our divided hearts.

That is precisely the kind of worship God yearns for.

When Israel stood at the cusp of their promised future, Moses delivered a powerful sermon - not just any words, but God given guidelines for how Israel should embrace their new life in the Promised Land Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

What is the core message? Worship the one true God with every fiber of your being.

Live Coram Deo.

Not just parts, but the entirety.

Because just as God is whole, our worship should mirror that completeness…that wholeness

But lets be real...we’ve all had moments where despite outward appearances, our connection with God felt severed.

We might be present, perhaps even active in church, but our heart's genuine love for God feels distant.

If this resonates with you, you're not alone.

Ecclesiastes 5 offers wisdom to bridge this gap: Listen.

Listen.

This counsel echoes Moses in Deuteronomy and is reinforced by Jesus in the New Testament.

We are to grow in listening

Listening isn't just a passive act; it's a profound spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God's heart.

Our world overwhelms us with sights and sounds that often lead us astray.

Yet, Ecclesiastes urges us to remember that true fulfillment comes not just from doing, but from receiving God's word.

The reality we see around is often grim, filled with suffering, envy, and endless quests for knowledge that seem to lead nowhere.

It might even tempt us to ask, "Is there hope? Should we just give up?"

But Ecclesiastes 5 offers an answer: Tune in to God's Word.

If you’re despairing about life, the universe, and everything, then use your ears. The Preacher is re-preaching what Moses preached in Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel.” He is giving us a sermon about how human beings may not be able to read the book of creation (the world), but we can read the book of the Law (the Bible). It is a fallen world, and interpreting it to our complete satisfaction can- not be done. You cannot always read it. But you can read the Bible. And as you read, God is speaking. So listen. _David Gibson

While the world might be complex and often inscrutable, God's message to us remains clear.

Listen closely.

Let His words guide, heal, and provide clarity amidst the chaos.

Big Idea:

Undivided worship is quick to listen, slow to speak

Let’s see first

1. Quick to Listen

Ecclesiastes 5:1–3 (ESV)

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

Again the lens shifts to worship

If you were to do a world tour of grand churches it’d be like stepping into another world, right?

You're hit with this stunning architecture, windows that tell stories in colors, and an atmosphere that's just... tranquil.

It'd be easy to think, "This is it. This is what worship feels like."

But hang on.

Ecclesiastes shakes up our whole perspective.

We’re shown that real worship isn’t about the show or the aesthetics.

God's after our hearts, not just our songs or our Sunday best.

The Bible doesn't shy away from calling out fake worship.

Sure, the rituals might look good for our Instagram feeds, but God's got X-ray vision right into our hearts.

If we're only clocking in and out of church, if we’re half-listening, thinking we've got this whole 'God thing' down – we're missing the point.

And isn’t it fascinating that Ecclesiastes chats about real worship right after diving into wealth and self-promotion?

We are being reminded that worship is all of life.

It’s not about 'me' but Him.

Just as chasing money without purpose is empty, so is worship without real connection.

Connecting with God isn't just us downloading all our issues onto Him.

It's a two-way conversation.

Think about it: when we talk to God, He's not just hearing our words; He's feeling our heartbeats, our passions, our pains.

When a friend's hurting, our first reaction is to jump in, fix it, or give them the “right” answer.

But maybe, just maybe, it's not about having the answers.

Maybe it's about pointing them to the One who does, sitting with them in silence, and letting God's word do the healing.

Ecclesiastes gives us a heads-up: don't be the person who's all talk, no listen.

We get this dream reference in Verse 3 and It’s a nudge.

Just as dreams can be fuzzy and fleeting, so can words without sincerity of heart.

Authentic worship?

It's less about raising our voices and more about tuning our ears to His voice.

Listen to Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of these first 3 verses:

Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good. Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

We are to lean in, listen up, and live it out.

True worship isn’t a once-a-week affair; it’s how we breathe, move, and respond to every facet of life.

Yet, in the whirlwind of our modern lives, with all of the many distractions and demands, how do we remain anchored in genuine worship?

The heart of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 gives us a timeless blueprint: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

This scripture isn't a light suggestion.

It’s a call to weave God's truths into our every moment.

It tells us to impress these words on our children, talk about them, bind them on our hands, our foreheads, write them on our doorframes.

In essence? Make God's word as tangible and present in our lives as the very air we breathe.

Now, you might be thinking, that’s a tall order.

But here’s where the rubber meets the road.

In a world of endless noise, how often do we actively, intentionally immerse ourselves in God's Word?

A local pastor came to have dinner with one of the families in his congregation.

The young couple was very pleased to have the minister in their home and the wife wanted to impress him.

So she thought it’d be great to get the pastor to read something to the kids after dinner before bed.

She asked one of her daughters, “Darling, please go and get the good book. Go and get the book we love. Go get the book we read every day.”

The girl came back with the Amazon toy catalogue.

What do you run to?

How often do we allow the truth of God’s word to recalibrate our thoughts and feelings, to shape our actions?

Paul, in Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The battleground is often in the mind, isn’t it?

Every day, we're bombarded with narratives and ideas that can easily misalign us from God’s truths.

But the antidote? The refreshing, renewing power of God's Word.

Application:

1.Daily Immersion

2. Mid-Day Calibration

3. Evening Reflection

4. Speak It

5. Post It

6. Accountability

1. Daily Immersion: Start the day with Scripture. Even if it's just a verse, let it be the lens through which you view the day.

2. Mid-Day Calibration: Set aside a few minutes in the middle of the day, perhaps during lunch. Reflect on that morning's Scripture. How did it apply to your morning? How can it shape your afternoon?

3. Evening Reflection: As you wind down, consider the moments you lived out the truths of that verse. Where did you fall short? Thank God for the victories, and seek His grace for the areas of growth.

4. Speak It: Just as Deuteronomy urges, talk about His truths. With your family at the dinner table, with a friend over coffee, or even as self-affirmations. The more you speak it, the more rooted it becomes.

5. Post It: Literally! Sticky notes on your mirror, dashboard, computer screen. Visual reminders of God's truths can make a difference.

6. Community Accountability: Share your journey with a trusted group or friend. Let them walk alongside you, reminding, affirming, and challenging you in your walk of genuine worship.

By embedding His word into our routine, we’re not just hearing, we're living Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

We're transforming our mind as Romans 12:2 teaches.

And in doing so, our worship becomes as authentic, as deep, and as natural as every breath we take.

Let's not just be hearers; let's be doers, let’s be believers, let’s be worshipers in spirit and truth, in every beat of our lives.

So we are quick to listen, to hear from the lord but we see 2nd

2. Slow To Speak - Praying in the Fear of The Lord

Ecclesiastes 5:4–7 (ESV)

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Ecclesiastes speaks straight to the weight of our words and the authenticity of our commitment to the Lord.

This makes me think about how we communicate with God, especially in our prayers.

Imagine for a moment the person who, in a moment of desperation, cries out, "God, if you get me out of this mess, I promise I'll serve you for the rest of my days!"

Fast forward a few weeks, life returns to normal, and suddenly God isn’t as much of a priority.

Sounds familiar, right?

Maybe some of us have been there.

But why is that? Perhaps it's because, deep down, many of us think our words are just that—words.

They're fleeting, temporary, like a gust of wind.

Yet, when we approach the throne of God, it's not with casual promises or flippant phrases.

God isn't looking for our grandiose claims or our well-intentioned but fleeting pledges.

He’s seeking our sincere hearts. (Jesus taught us this in parables)

A MAN was praying one day in a church in England.

His English was terrible and broken.

He was doing a horrible job destroying the king’s English.

A lady who was hearing his prayers was just beside herself as this man spoke in this manner.

After he said “amen” she said, “Young man, that was the worst grammar and articulation I have ever heard in my life. I am disgusted that you would talk like that.”

He turned, looked at the woman, and said, “But lady, I wasn’t talking to you.”

Prayer is communication with God.

Our God is not some distant deity but a personal, intimate, and involved Father.

And this God, our God, knows our hearts, feels our pains, and listens intently to our prayers.

But here's where it gets challenging: How often are our prayers mere words versus genuine expressions of our souls?

This is where the "fear of the Lord" comes into play. When we talk about fearing God, it's not about being terrified of Him, as if waiting for a hammer to drop.

No, the "fear of the Lord" is about marveling at His splendor, being in awe of His majesty, and respecting His infinite wisdom.

It's a recognition that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our lives.

When we truly fear the Lord in the way the Bible describes, our prayers shift.

They move from being mere words or rehearsed lines to raw, genuine, and heartfelt communication with the creator.

Our prayers become less about what we want and more about aligning ourselves with His will.

It’s about pouring out our hearts and then listening, truly listening, for His guiding voice.

I want to challenge us to take a hard look at our prayer lives.

Are we just going through the motions, or are we genuinely engaging with the God of the universe?

Let's be sincere in our words, both to God and to others.

And let’s remember that a right fear of the Lord, rooted in love and understanding of His character, not only draws us closer to Him but also transforms how we communicate with Him.

Our words have weight, so speak with sincerity, integrity, and a heart tuned to the whispers of the Almighty.

Application:

1. Start with Awe, Not Requests

2. Authenticity Over Eloquence

3. Listen More, Talk Less

4. Avoid the "Vending Machine" Mentality

5. Embrace the Power of Journaling

6. Seek Accountability

7. Embrace the "I Don't Know"

8. The 5-5-5 Challenge

1. Start with Awe, Not Requests: Before you dive into your laundry list of needs, take a moment to recognize who you're speaking to. Breathe in the majesty, power, and love of God. That simple pause can change the tone and direction of your entire conversation.

2. Authenticity Over Eloquence: Drop the act. God isn't impressed by flowery language or perfectly composed sentences. He's after your heart. Be real, be raw, and be honest. Sometimes the most profound prayers are the simplest: "Help," "Thanks," "Wow."

3. Listen More, Talk Less: Remember, prayer isn't a monologue; it's a dialogue. Spend as much time – if not more – in silence, tuning in to God. You might be surprised at what you 'hear' when you give God space to 'speak'.

4. Avoid the "Vending Machine" Mentality: Don't just come to God when you want something. Prayer isn't about inserting the right amount of words or the right kind of plea to get what you desire. God isn't a cosmic vending machine. Seek connection, not just answers.

5. Embrace the Power of Journaling: Sometimes it's hard to focus or know where to start. Consider journaling your prayers. It gives structure to your thoughts and serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness when you look back on answered (and unanswered) prayers.

6. Seek Accountability: Find a prayer partner or join a prayer group. Sharing prayer requests and praying for one another can deepen your understanding of intercession and cultivate a vibrant community.

7. Embrace the "I Don't Know": It's okay to sit in the mystery of God. If you don't have the words, or if you're grappling with doubt, bring that to Him. God can handle your questions, your anger, your sadness. He just wants you.

8. The 5-5-5 Challenge: For the next week, spend 5 minutes in the morning thanking God for who He is and what He's done. Spend 5 minutes in the afternoon listening and reflecting. End your day with 5 minutes of laying your needs and concerns before Him. See how this simple, 15-minute daily commitment can transform your prayer life.

Let’s get real for a moment.

We all have our unique quirks when it comes to engaging with God, right?

There are some of us who have a lot to say, confidently unpacking theology or maybe even challenging the Lord.

But here’s the real question: Are we absorbing as much as we’re spouting out?

The Preacher here is laying down the truth: God’s got the wisdom; we’re just trying to keep up.

And then, on the flip side, we’ve got the quiet contemplators among us.

Maybe words just don’t come easy, and we’re left wondering, “God, are you even tuned into this frequency? I’m cranking up the volume, but all I’m getting is static.”

If you’ve walked this faith journey for more than a hot minute, you know it’s not all sunshine and clear skies.

And simple, easy answers? Yeah, those are in short supply.

But here’s the kicker from Ecclesiastes: Our grasp of God’s reality?

It’s not about our fleeting feelings.

It’s anchored in the unshakeable truth of His Word.

Life’s going to throw us for a loop, make God seem like He’s playing hide-and-seek.

But the Preacher’s challenging us to turn that lens inward.

Why the doubt? Why the struggle to connect?

It’s a call to interrogate our own hearts, but without letting go of the solid rock of His Word, even when the fog rolls in.

Take a page out of the Israelites’ playbook in Deuteronomy 5.

They tell Moses, “You do the talking, and we’ll do the walking. You hear from God, and we’ll act.”

They knew a face-to-face with God was off the table, but they were all in for listening. It’s not about seeing; it’s about hearing and responding.

So here we are, standing in the thick of it, every single day. God’s laid His cards on the table. He’s spoken. Now it’s our move. What’s it gonna be?

Are you in the word?

Are you sincere before the lord?

Be quick to listen, slow to speak.

Application Questions

Is my daily life more influenced by God’s Word or by my own thoughts and the world's standards?

When I think about my prayer life, is it more about me speaking or me listening to God?

Are there times I've tried to manipulate God with my words or tried to convince Him based on my own reasoning?

How does my daily life reflect a heart of worship?