The Sacrifice of Fools
Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
July 4, 2021
Throughout Scripture we are confronted with the reality of
People who bring UNACCEPTABLE SACRIFICES to God.
• At times God would actually command His people to stop bringing the blood of goats and bulls.
• He would tell His people that He had not interest in their songs.
• He would tell them that He would not listen to their prayers.
All of these sacrifices were unacceptable to Him
Because they were not offered with devoted hearts.
They were offered by men who came to God with a wicked heart
And therefore God was not the least bit interested in their sacrifice.
Isaiah 1:13-15 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.”
Hosea 6:6 “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Amos 5:21-23 “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.”
So we learned repeatedly in the Old Testament
TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE APPROACH GOD,
For even our sacrifices are not acceptable to Him
If they are offered with the wrong kind of heart.
Well, the preacher here has something to say about that reality as well.
Here we learn about what he calls “the sacrifice of fools”
Only in his case he ISN’T TALKING ABOUT a goat or a bull or an ephah of grain.
The preacher here is talking about FOOLISH WORDS.
He is warning the young man about his words
When he comes to approach God.
And this is such an important study on so many levels.
The Bible has so much to say about our words.
• We get constant warnings against things like gossip or slander or grumbling.
• Those are sins that routinely bring with them the wrath of God.
We certainly understand the warning of Jesus regarding the sin of the lips:
Matthew 12:36-37 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Jesus was very clear that we must be careful what we say
For there is a judgment coming, and all our words will be remembered.
We get warnings from James:
James 3:8 “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”
There are so many warnings in Scripture regarding the tongue.
Especially when our tongue is used for slander or gossip
Instead of for the glory of God.
And while such studies are plentiful and needed, those are NOT the issues that the preacher has in mind here in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Instead, the preacher is referencing
How we use our tongue when we approach God.
(1) “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.”
Let’s discuss where this fits in the overall theme of the preacher here.
It is easy to discern from reading Ecclesiastes that
One of the preacher’s main concerns is that the young man
Will be enamored by the world and will make it his ambition to obtain it.
• That might be wisdom (philosophy)
• That might be pleasure
• That might be a legacy
• That might just be temporal comfort
And his warning is continually that
Instead of chasing the world, you should seek, trust, fear, and enjoy God.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-14 “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.”
Ecclesiastes 3:22 “I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?”
He has repeatedly returned to the point that all the allurements of this world are nothing but vapor, smoke, HEBEL.
AND THAT TRUE SATISFACTION IS FOUND ONLY IN GOD.
That has been the point.
BUT WE KNOW MEN DON’T WE.
Too many people have heard such a message and sought to sort of cheat the system.
So what do they do?
They seek God in hopes that God will give them the world.
CLEVER HUH?
• And God becomes nothing more than a powerful genie in a bottle.
• He becomes the cosmic Sugar Daddy that we run to for temporal satisfaction.
• And at worst He becomes a spiritual butler who is obligated to grant our demands.
We see and we have seen it often.
Modern Christianity has been more than infiltrated with
What is known as the “Word Faith” movement.
• It is a movement that has it’s roots in the metaphysical cults.
• It is theology that comes from New Age philosophy and Christian Science.
• Oprah Winfrey promotes it as “The Secret”
• Joyce Meyer has a book called “Change Your Words, Change Your Life, Understanding the Power of Every Word You Speak”
• She also has a book called “Power Words: What You Say Can Change Your Life”
Charismatic circles have sort of repackaged this New Age thinking
In sort of a Christian wrapper, but it is pagan to the core.
You are likely most familiar with it as “Name it and Claim it”
• In it’s pagan sense, it is the belief that our words have the power to attract things into our lives and even to create scenarios for our lives.
• And when you mix it with Christianity it is the belief that because of our relationship with God our words have the same power as His and He is somehow obligated to honor what we say.
It is actually a form of blasphemy since only God can create with words,
But this is what many actually claim even under the heading of Christianity.
But the belief is that your words have power.
• You speak things into existence.
• Your words even have the power to direct the power of God.
I’ll give you sort of an outrageous example of this.
In 2004 Joel Olsteen was on TBN
• He was discussing how after the angel revealed to Zacharias that his wife
Martha was going to conceive a child (John the Baptist)
• And that God then struck Zacharias with muteness.
Scripture says that God did that because Zacharias asked for a sign out of unbelief
So God granted that he would not be able to speak until the child was born.
But here is Joel Olsteen’s commentary on the story.
“Why did God take away his speech? It’s because God knew that Zachariah’s negative words would cancel out His plan…See, God knows the power of our words. He knows that we prophesy our future. And He knew Zachariah’s own negative words would stop His plan.”
-Joel Olsteen, Discover The Champion In You, TBN, May 3, 2004.
https://youtu.be/kOTrMSOrYew (23:01)
Wow, the entire plan of redemption hung in the balance until God,
In a last ditch effort to save redemption caused Zachariah to go mute.
That is some of the nonsense I’m talking about.
But it’s the belief that our words have such power
That God is somehow obligated to yield to what we say.
• And so we hear people who are sick say things like, “I won’t confess that sickness in my life”
• Or like Gloria Copeland who says she and Kenneth control the weather by rebuking storms, etc.
• Or you hear people say things like, “I declare…” or “I pronounce you…” or “I speak this”
• https://youtu.be/kOTrMSOrYew
There is a belief and even a growing practice
About using our words to bring about from God
The things we desire in life.
But friend there are no new heresies, just repackaged ones.
The folly of such foolishness seen today
Was addressed by the Preacher around 3,000 years ago.
He called it “The Sacrifice of Fools”.
THIS MORNING let’s listen as the preacher gives further instruction to the young man about not offering such a foolish sacrifice.
• We’re going to break the text down into 2 points.
• What we see here are 2 examples;
• 2 types of people who wrongly approach God with their words.
We can learn from both of them.
#1 THE BOASTER
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3
So here we see that INITIAL WARNING to the young man.
“Guard your steps as you go to the house of God”
• It is a warning to be careful how you walk.
• It’s not literal in the sense of actually tripping over something.
• It’s an analogy meant to tell you to give special attention to how you act.
And here specifically it has to do with
HOW YOU TALK WHEN YOU APPROACH GOD.
“draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.”
• There is a man referenced here who has entered either the temple or the synagogue in order that he might worship.
• However, the worship he offers to God is actually called “evil” and yet the man doesn’t even know it.
That alone should raise your antenna this morning.
To read here that you can ignorantly bring something to God
That God considers evil.
That should cause each of us to ask:
• What is this foolish sacrifice?
• What is this ignorant and evil offering?
(2) “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God.”
We are talking here about a man who approaches God
In order to give instruction or advice or a “gameplan” to God.
This is very much so that man who brings his demands or declarations to God.
And to the preacher this is the epitome of foolish evil.
(2b) “For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”
To bring your demands or declarations to God
As though God is here to take orders from you
Is the most obnoxious case of arrogance that can be imagined.
The Creator does not take orders from the dirt.
Do you remember when Job sort of outgrew his britches?
Job 38:1-2 “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?”
Do you remember when Paul addressed those who question God’s sovereignty?
Romans 9:20 “On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?”
Do you remember when Peter set out to correct the misguided plans of Jesus?
Matthew 16:22-23 “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
What kind of fool would approach God and then do all the talking?
According to the preacher all you do when you give your plans to God like that is PROVE YOURSELF A FOOL.
(3) “For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.”
• This is a proverb of sort.
• It might actually help you understand it better if you read it like this: “As the
dream comes as a result of much effort likewise the voice of a fool
through many words.”
It’s just a simple point.
“the dream comes through much effort”
• He is NOT talking about prophetic dreams here which God did offer at times
in Bible times.
• He’s NOT even talking about your goals or ambitions as if to say your
dreams are accomplished through hard work.
He is just pointing out the simple truth that
Dreams are the result of a mind that has been running full speed ahead.
• When you work hard and occupy your mind and really push yourself the
consequence of that is commonly that you will have a dream about it when
you sleep.
• Much of the time it doesn’t make sense; it may be a fear or a fantasy about the
situation, but a dream is simply the consequence of a busy life.
A busy life has a consequence of foolish dreams.
A busy mouth before God has a consequence
Of proving yourself a foolish person.
THAT’S HIS POINT.
Only a fool would approach God with the objective of doing all the talking.
Remember the evil fool James talked about?
James 4:13-17 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
That was a fool who came and sort of declared to God all his plans.
• He didn’t seek the will of God.
• He didn’t take into account the plan of God.
• He just arrogantly came and told God what he was going to do.
James implied foolishness there and he actually called it evil and sin.
That is anyone who thinks they can approach God and tell God
Or declare to God what He is going to do on their behalf.
BOASTING IS STUPID.
Remember how Abraham went before God when he was asking for the salvation of any righteous who lived in Sodom?
Genesis 18:27 “And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.”
That is understanding how to go before God.
James gave other instruction that should certainly be heeded here.
James 1:19-27 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
James spoke of a man who “must be quick to hear”
• That is to hear what God has to say.
James spoke of a man who must be “slow to speak”
• That is reluctant to give his opinion to God or even his excuses to God.
James spoke of a man who must be “slow to anger”
• That is hesitant to get angry when God tells him the truth about him or when God’s plans differ from his own.
Instead he is to put aside his wickedness
And “in humility receive the word implanted”
And then he is to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer.
Only a fool goes to worship and then does all the talking.
Only a fool approaches God and gives the orders?
IT IS SO BACKWARD IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNTHINKABLE.
“For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”
Remember Jesus talking about prayer?
Matthew 6:7-13 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
This is the warning of the preacher.
YOU ARE NOT GOD STOP ACTING LIKE IT WHEN YOU APPROACH GOD.
Don’t go to air your opinions and your advice, you go to hear His.
Open the Bible, listen to God, and don’t argue with Him, just do it.
• He is not your butler…
• He is not your genie…
• He is not your Sugar Daddy…
He is your God and you are His creation.
He is the Potter, you are the clay.
• So “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God”
• Be reverent, remember who He is and who you are.
To go before God as a boaster who is telling Him what He should do
Is to bring “the sacrifice of fools.”
Well that’s one mistake we make with our lips.
There is another.
#2 THE NEGOTIATOR
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7
Here we have a guy with a different tactic.
• He’s not quite as bold as the first guy.
• He doesn’t come telling God what to do.
He comes instead to negotiate with God a desired response.
His plan is to make a vow to God
In hopes that God will honor his desire.
But there is an INHERENT DANGER in that.
That can be a very foolish decision as well.
So listen as the preacher instructs the young man further.
“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!”
There again the fool emerges.
This time it is the fool who makes a promise to God that he doesn’t keep.
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you. “However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. “You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.”
And that is precisely what the preacher says here.
(5) “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and no pay.”
He is addressing the temptation of man to enter negotiations with God.
• I’ve heard people in hospital beds say, “If God heals me I’ve promised I’m coming to church…”
Be careful soliciting God into some sort of agreement like that.
One thing God knows nothing of is going back on His word
And He does not allow man to do it either.
The Old Testament story of Jephthah comes to mind here.
Remember Jephthah wanted victory over the Ammonites.
Judges 11:30-31 “Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand, then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
Nothing says that such a vow was necessary,
But Jephthah made it anyway.
And God granted the request.
And then we read further:
Judges 11:34-35 “When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back.”
Jephthah made a foolish vow,
But he was not foolish enough to go back on what he promised.
THE POINT IS THAT YOU DON’T LIE TO GOD.
Remember this couple?
Acts 5:1-11 “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.”
• If you say something to God you’d better tell the truth.
• If you make a promise to God you’d better honor it.
(6) “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 on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”
He is speaking of a person who makes a promise to God
BUT THEN WANTS TO GET OUT OF IT.
So the person goes to the priest or the prophet
And tries to get released from the vow.
AND THE POINT IS, IT CAN’T HAPPEN.
Look at Samson and the grief he caused himself because he took the vow of a Nazarite and then allowed his hair to be cut.
You don’t make a promise to God and then go back on it.
The preacher actually speaks of God as A SERIOUS CREDITOR.
You, in effect, took out a loan from God.
• You bartered His services with promise of payment.
• If you renege on your promise, don’t expect God to just be ok with it.
In fact the preacher says “Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”
He speaks of God as A REPO AGENT.
You made a promise, you didn’t keep it, God will make it even.
Very few people think of God in these terms today.
They think it is nothing to make promises to God that they do not keep,
But the preacher tells the young man that this is very foolish.
It is foolish to approach God and do all the talking.
It is foolish to approach God and make promises you don’t keep.
In both cases you are inviting the displeasure and judgment of God.
• Why would you think it is ok to tell God what He must do for you?
• Why would you think it is ok to make a promise to God that you won’t keep?
That is foolish.
That is the sacrifice of fools.
And the preacher continues.
(7) “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather fear God.”
• “emptiness” is that same HEBEL that you are so used to.
• Usually rendered “vanity”; it refers to smoke or a mirage.
And here the preacher makes ANOTHER COMPARISON TO A DREAM.
He says dreams are “emptiness”
For the most part you know that’s right.
• Most of the time they are foolish and nonsense.
• They are the product of an overactive imagination.
• You can’t count on them, they aren’t true.
It’s just a figment, it’s a mirage; the preacher says.
Well, so are your “many words” to God.
That is to say “smooth talking won’t get you out of trouble”
You’re not going to talk your way out of it.
• You may make a promise to a loan shark and not be able to pay.
• He may come to collect and through your smooth speech you might negotiate a few more days out of him.
BUT NOT GOD.
He knows the words of man, because He knows the heart.
Listen to God’s assessment of the children of Israel.
Psalms 78:34-37 “When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.”
In Hosea God promised judgment
• The people said, “Let us return to the LORD”.
• God heard what they said, but listen to His response.
Hosea 6:4-6 “What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Jesus knew it:
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
And again:
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Listen to Jesus address the Pharisees:
Matthew 15:7-9 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Do you get the point?
• Empty words and empty promises mean nothing to God.
• Only a fool would offer them.
But the preacher has a better solution for the young man, and for all of us.
“Rather, fear God.”
Do you want a proper attitude of worship?
Do you want to know how to approach God?
• YOU DON’T come running off at the mouth making all your declarations and demands of what God must do for you,
• AND YOU SURE DON’T come negotiating and making promises you don’t intend to keep.
Both of those men are fools.
Instead, you come before God in “fear”
You come before God with holy reverence.
Remember how Job responded after God addressed his arrogance?
Job 42:1-6 “Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”
How do you suppose the church responded to God after He struck Ananias and Saphira dead?
THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED THERE.
When we deal with God, it is not a joke.
• He is certainly gracious and merciful and full of compassion.
• He is certainly a God who saves sinners.
• He has demonstrated His love by sending His Son to die for sinners.
ALL OF THAT IS SERIOUS TO HIM.
When God stretches out His hand to call sinners to salvation,
• Only a fool would return with his own set or conditions and seek to tell God
what else he wants.
When God stretches out His offer of mercy to a vilest offender,
• Only a fool would make an agreement with God that he does not keep.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
God is merciful, but He is still God.
God is gracious, but He is still God.
HE IS STILL GOD AND YOU STILL ARE NOT.
And when we deal with Him it is best that we not forget our place.
• Approach Him in humility,
• Approach Him in sincerity.
• Come before Him with fear and trembling.
• Submit yourself to His will.
• Confess Him as Lord.
• And keep your confession.
He is NOT your personal butler
He is NOT your sugar daddy
He is the God of the universe
And He has graciously offered you salvation.
Take His offer, submit to His will,
Keep your mouth closed and your ears opened,
And when you make a commitment to Him keep it.
• Do not take His name in vain.
• Do not say “Lord, Lord” and then not do what He says.
One final passage to close:
Matthew 21:28-32 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.”
See the difference?
• One gave a true sacrifice.
• One gave the sacrifice of fools.
