Religion is Meaningless Apart from Jesus

“When we obey God, we’re not doing it for God … we’re doing it for ourselves because God takes pleasure when we’re happy.… When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really, you’re doing it for yourself.” Victoria Osteen

Her sentiments, unfortunately, capture too much of the American churches heart to God on Sunday mornings. Entering the house of the Lord is not so much about fear and trembling, or standing in awe of him. We do religion on the spectrum of either showing up to a ritual and going through the motions on the one hand, to buying your ticket to ride the entertainment train we call modern worship that gently weaves you up the mountain of “all about me” to the reservoir of “self-help” that is about an inch deep and a mile wide.

It is alarming how much of God is neglected in our Sunday mornings, our devotional books, and our ministries. In too many churches in America, we’ve allowed preaching the bible to be little more than a 10 minute TED talk about fixing your husband or your wife or your children. How often do you meet with your Christian friends at Jubelts and hear them talk about transcendent majesty and glory of God, that they saw in the preaching of God’s word, or the music that was sung that Sunday?

Johnathan Aikin laments the state of reverence for God in the church when he says,

“Worship has become all about me—my desires, my likes, my preferences, what I want—and that is nothing less than idolatry. Two men have exposed this reality with what they call cat and dog theology... A dog says, “You pet me, feed me, shelter me, and love me; you must be God,” but a cat says, “You pet me, feed me, shelter me, and love me; I must be God.” So much modern Christianity looks just like those. God is no longer the Almighty Sovereign King of the universe; He is personal shopper, life coach, homeboy, and genie all rolled into one. We see God as a means to an end and not an end in and of Himself. We use God to get what we really want. Some come back to church, start giving money regularly, and have perfect attendance in Bible study because they hope God will take their cancer away, fix their family, provide them wealth.”

This is a trend in religion in America. It’s as if we’ve come to this place where we can have church regardless if God is there or not. It’s as if we can have worship regardless if the Holy Spirit is present or not. It’s as if we can have religion regardless if we have Jesus. This is absurd!

Religious worship is meaningless apart from the fear of God given to us in Christ Jesus.

This morning Solomon will caution us about how we worship a Holy God. Solomon says, “fear the Lord.” How do we do that appropriately? To begin with, Solomon exposes our fearless worship in three ways: offerings, prayers, and promises.

Religion is meaningless when...

We offer fearless offerings (Eccl 5:1)

Ecclesiastes 5:1 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.

When Solomon says, “Guard your steps when you go to God’s house,” he is saying in so many words that you need to proceed with a fearful reverence. It is possible that he is alluding to God’s caution to Moses about standing too close to the burning bush. God said to Moses

Exodus 3:5 (ESV)

“Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

The problem for Moses was God’s holiness. The word holiness means to be separate. God is ultimately and absolutely separate from his creation. Charles Hodge does a wonderful job clarifying God’s holiness for you and I. Hodge says,

“This [holiness] is a general term for the moral excellence of God. In 1 Sam. 2:2, it is said, “There is none holy as the Lord;” no other Being absolutely pure, and free from all limitation in his moral perfection. “Thou Holy One of Israel,” is the form of address which the Spirit puts into the lips of the people of God. “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is Holy.” (Ps. 99:9.) “Holy and reverend is his name.” (Ps. 111:9.) “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” (Hab. 1:13.) “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for Thou only art Holy.” (Rev. 15:4.)

“Holiness, on the one hand, implies entire freedom from moral evil; and, upon the other, absolute moral perfection. Freedom from impurity is the primary idea of the word. To sanctify is to cleanse; to be holy, is to be clean.” Charles Hodge

Moses was not holy. He was not morally clean. That is the problem with all of us. We are not morally clean. The effective of the fall in the Garden of Eden is the reality that no human being is spiritually good before God. Wayne Grudem brings clarity to just how deep our sin affects our human nature. Grudem says,

“In our natures we totally lack spiritual good before God: It is not just that some parts of us are sinful and others are pure. Rather, every part of our being is affected by sin—our intellects, our emotions and desires, our hearts (the center of our desires and decision-making processes), our goals and motives, and even our physical bodies.” Wayne Grudem

Paul understood the deep effective of sin when he said

Romans 7:18 ESV

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

To Titus, Paul also said

Titus 1:15 ESV

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

And of course, you guys know Jeremiah’s take on the human heart,

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

It’s not that human beings can’t do good things for human society. We are made in the image of God. We can show comparison and kindness and generosity to our fellow man. But when we stand before God’s holiness, our best righteousness is like a filthy used rag. That was Moses problem and that was Israel’s problem before Mount Sinai, and that is our problem coming into God’s house. So Solomon says, you need to guard your steps. You are about to enter God’s house, his temple. You need to know who you are dealing with. This is not the big guy upstairs, or the wise grandpa on your porch. He is not a sage or a philosopher. Yahweh is the Living Holy God. You must approach him with fear. And immediately Solomon says approaching God with fear means you come with your mouth shut and your ears open ready to learn.

In the movie, Polar Express, there is a young boy who affectionately known as the, “The know-it-all kid.” He’s very talkative and comes across as smart. But the more he talks, you realize he has a lot to learn. At the end of the movie he receives a golden ticket that at first reads, “LEAN.” He starts giving the conductor a hard time about receiving such an ambiguous ticket. What he does not realize in all his talking is that his finger is covering up the letter R. The word says LEARN. Once he realizes it he says sorry and is quiet. Do you ever wonder if you come to God’s house with the same attitude as the Know it all kid? Do you know how to come like that? You come like the know-it -all kid when you come to church with an unteachable spirit. You lack the humility to learn something new. When your doctrine is challenged or your beliefs are pressed, you shut down or tune out. You say things like, “I’m not going to listen to that.” Or instead really search for truth, you proof text (find scriptures that only support your view of things) and never entertain something else. You do it all in the name of guarding your doctrine, which is really having the spirit of the Know it all kid. Look, if what you believe cannot stand a little scrutiny, then you need to walk back your belief and find more solid ground to stand upon. So, come into the house of the Lord with a teachable spirit. Come ready, eager, to listen and learn from God’s word; let your words be few. If you don’t, Solomon says you will offer the sacrifice of fools.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 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.

The sacrifice of fools is what Michael Heiser says are sacrifices or any other outward expression of religion done without obedience. God has always desired obedience over sacrifice. Solomon says to his sons

Proverbs 21:3 ESV

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

God told Jeremiah to tell his backslidden people,

Jeremiah 7:22–23 ESV

For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’

Why was Saul rejected as King? He was rejected because he did not obey God’s instructions to completely destory the Amalekites, instead he chose to save their animals for sacrifice. And God told Saul through Samuel,

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV

And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

and of the wicked or the disobedient, God says

Proverbs 21:27 ESV

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

When you approach God’s house you must do so with a heart that is ready, eager, to obey God’s will and his truth. You must come, again, in humility, ready to put into practice what He teaches you so that you can live a holy life, a separate life from the lust of this world. Your holiness matters to God, His kingdom, and His mission.

Vance Havner tells a story of a Father had a rather strong-willed son. On the way to the store he kept telling the child, “Sit down and buckle the seat belt.” But the little kid just kept standing in the seat. Again he said, “Sit down and buckle the seat belt.” And after a time or two more the boy was convinced he had better sit down or disaster would strike. So he slipped down onto the seat, snapped the seat belt closed, and said, “Daddy, I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside.”

Does the boy’s words echo your heart toward God? Do you come to church with the attitude that I came and did my duty. I paid my tithe and I sat through the sermon. I checked off my religious box. Once I leave, I leave God at the door. In other words, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but on the inside, I’m standing up.” Is that you?

What absurdity! Who in their right mind comes to church every Sunday to hear God’s word with no intent of obeying it? How can you come into the house of God, stand in his holy presence, and then leave the church claiming to be his, but live an unholy life? The Bible calls that what the culture calls it, hypocrisy.

The sacrifice of fools is evil because it is hypocrisy to come to God’s house to offer a fearless sacrifice and leave with no intent to obey God’s truth.

Your religion is meaningless if you come to God’s house to offer a fearless sacrifice; that is to come without any humility to listen and intent to obey His instruction.

We offer fearless prayers (Eccl 5:2-3)

Solomon says words have consequences. In the same vein as letting your words be few, he says,

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV

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.

God is in the heavens and you are on earth. Solomon is pointing out God’s position as the sovereign authority. He is big. You are small. He is all wise. You are ignorant. He is all powerful. You are but dust. He is eternal. You are here today and gone tomorrow. Be careful about what comes out of your mouth when you stand int he presence of a Holy God. Take a moment to stand in awe of Him before you utter a word. And he gives, in verse 3, a proverb to support his wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 HCSB

For dreams result from much work and a fool’s voice from many words.

Solomon is using dreams metaphorically here. It is similar to what we would say in English, “He has big dreams.” Children fantasize about being a great athlete or being super hero, have big dreams. The problem here is the fool who comes to God with fearless prayers is living in a fantasy world. They believe they can manipulate God with their many words in prayer. When you pray fearless and heartless prayer of manipulation, all you are doing is heaping up empty phrases.

Jesus touched on this in the gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 6:7–8 ESV

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

What are empty phrases? They are prayers that do not come from a heart of faith, a heart of humility, and heart of desperately dependency on God. If God is ever annoyed, its when people pray without any intention of loving him or needing him or even listening to him, but only to manipulate him, as if that is even possible. That kind of prayer is fearless and heartless.

The great puritan,Thomas Brooks, hits the head on the nail when he says:

“Prayer is only lovely and weighty as the heart is in it, and no otherwise. It is not the lifting up of the voice, nor the wringing of the hands, nor the beating of the breasts, nor an affected tone, nor studied motions, nor seraphical expressions, but the stirrings of the heart that God looks at in prayer. God hears no more than the heart speaks. If the heart be dumb, God will certainly be deaf. No prayer takes with God, but that which is the travail of the heart.” Thomas Brooks

Your religion is meaningless if your prayers are fearless and heartless before God.

We offer fearless vows (Eccl 5:4-6)

The other way you use your words with God is making promises that you have no ability at best, or intention at worst, of fulfilling. Solomon warns you not be be rash, or quick to make a vow before God. He says

Ecclesiastes 5:4–6 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?

The messenger in verse 6, is likely a messenger from the temple who made sure vows were completed. (It could also be an angel, Duane Garrett says possible even the angel of death.) A vow is a promise. In this context, your vow is a promsie you make to God. Vows were often made in an effort to bargain with God. You say things like, “God I promise to do this is you will do that.” In the Bible, vows were typically made in an urgent request.

You know, you just got done hearing a paradigm shifting sermon on tithing and you feel compelled to give to ministries like TTV. When the offering plate is int eh front row, your heart is moved to give $1,000. And right there you tell God, I’m giving a thousand dollars for those children to hear about you, Lord. My checkbook is in my pocket. And you look at deacon Mike sitting right next to you, and you say man, pastor’s Jason’s sermon was spot on today. I’m giving a thousand dollars to TTV. You gotta pen I can borrow? By now the offering plate is at the second row, and you start thinking, “Man, a thousand dollars is a lot of money. I got some things I need to take care of this month. Maybe $700 will do it. By the third row, you mind says, “You God, inflation is killing me. I paid $94 for a full tank of gas this week. Milk is over $3 a gallon. Maybe $500 will do it. On the fourth row you beam from the golden plat catches the corner of your eye and you realize you gotta write this check. Your in the fifth row. And you realize, man, you know, “God next month my taxes are coming do. I can always tithe some of that money to TTV. Maybe this time I get by with $200. I mean, $200 is a lot of money. Thats two tanks of gas and 66 gallons of milk. By the time the plate sits on your lap, Mike is asking for his pen back and gets ready to tell the church how proud he is of your $1,000 generosity. And you say, well that is not right. You are mistaken Michale, I meant $100. I’m a hundred dollars generous.

No fulfilling a vow was a big deal in levitical Law. The word of God says,

Numbers 30:2 ESV

If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Solomon warns

Proverbs 20:25 ESV

It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

Jephthah might be the most notable example of a man who made a rash vow in the Bible. He vowed to sacrifice whatever greeted him at his door in Judges 11:30-40, which unbeknownst to him was his daughter.

Solomon says be careful with your words. It is better for you not to vow, than be dishonest with your vows and not keep them to the Lord. God cares about your promises and gets angry when you don’t keep them. All the work you could’ve done by keeping your vow is lost forever.

Your religion is meaningless is your mouth is careless with making fearless promises you don’t intend to keep.

Christ gives you confidence to approach God’s throne with reverence (Eccl 5:7)

Ecclesiastes 5:7 HCSB

For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

Once again, Solomon reminds his readers that no amount of words, empty phrases or worthless vows, can manipulate God. Instead, Solomon says to fear God.

By now you might realize that we have not adequately dealt with our sin problem. Solomon says to fear God. To fear God, as Michael Hiesier, points out is to take a reverent posture God-the proper human response to God’s sovereign holiness. It’s what Moses did when he took off his sandals and bowed his head before the burning bush. He surrendered himself to God and listened to his word. Then Moses got up and did what was commanded of him. He trusted God and obeyed His will to go and set his people free. Moses believed God!

For us on this side of the cross, it is not about taking off our sandals as it is putting on Jesus Christ. You cannot approach God’s holiness apart from Jesus Christ. Jesus died to take your sin and give you his righteousness. When you believe God, when you accepted Jesus as your Savior, he takes away your sinful unrighteousness and washes you clean by his pure and holy blood. He atones for your sins and justifies you before God. Jesus makes you holy. Jesus enables you to stand before God in awe of Him and live forever. But you must ask him for forgiveness. You must repent of your sin, other wise God’s holiness will devour you when you stand int he judgment. You will spend eternity in hell for your iniquity. And none of your fearless and meaningless religion will help you.

But for those who call upon the Lord to be saved. For those who put their trust in Jesus and invite him into their heart, he not only makes you righteous, but he invites you to enter God’s throne with confidence to be heard.

Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

By his blood, Jesus gives you the right to enter God’s presence with a true heart full of assurance and faith. That means you have God’s ear, you have his favor, you have his mercy, and his grace. He wants you to pray, and pray often. He is eager to hear from you. And when you loose the words to pray, Jesus gives you his Spirit who will pray on your behalf.

Not only does he help you pray, but Jesus enables you to worship God in spirit and truth, in the fear of the Lord. He helps you make keep your vows, and even when you can’t keep your vow, Christ always keeps his vow to save you and keep you until the end.

Your religion is meaningless apart form Jesus. Your prayers are empty phrases and your vows are worthless apart from Christ. Jesus gives your religion meaning because he makes you holy, he brings you into the presence of God, justified. By his blood you have the full assurance of faith to pray without ceasing and be heard with joy. Jesus enables you to worship God int eh fear of the Lord, and keeps his promsie to you. So, make you religion meaningful by making Him your Savior, the centerpiece of your life. Pray. Pray often and without ceasing, knowing God hears the prayers of the righteous and answers them. Commit your ways to His kingdom. God big. Sell out. Give everything to joyfully advancing the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus in the church, community, and home until we see the church, community, and home joyfully abiding in Jesus.

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