Godless Religion is Meaningless

Ecclesiastes Study, 2024

Series Title: The Pursuit of Purpose

Message #13

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.

ETS: Solomon reflected on religion to determine its meaning.

ESS: Religion apart from God is meaningless.

OSS: [Devotion] {I want the hearers to examine their idea and practice of religion— does it revolve around God or something else?}

PQ:

What pieces of advice can we gather from Solomon’s reflections in this passage?

UW: Pieces

TS: Let us examine the pieces of advice gathered from Solomon’s reflections now.

Our worship should be honorable to God. [1-3]

Sacrifice

Obedience is key

Words [Specifically in prayer]

Humility and fear of God (v. 7b) are key as opposed to any effort to impress God with many words.

Dreams

Dreams and words seem to accompany the person who works too much (Duane A. Garrett, “Ecclesiastes,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1010.)

Our vows should be honorable to God. [vv. 4-7]

Prompt and punctual

Don’t delay in fulfilling the vow you make.

Obtainable

Don’t make vow of something you cannot fulfill.

Words

Again, the emphasis is on humility and intentionality with words.

Dreams

Again, the emphasis is on not being overtaken by dreams or words as the fool is.

Reflection Questions:

[1] How do you know that your worship is honorable to God?

It is from a position of humility

It is from a position of fear of God

It is from a position of obedience

[2] How do you know that any vow you make is honorable to God?

It is fulfilled in a timely manner— don’t delay

It is obtainable and not unrealistic.