In these chapters, Solomon continues his search for meaning by examining worship, power, and wealth, showing that both careless worship and unchecked greed ultimately leave the soul dissatisfied.
Reverence Towards God - Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
He began by warning the people to keep in mind that the Temple is a place for humble communion and true worship. Ritual sacrifices and prayers offered without genuine devotion or proper reverence were displeasing to God. Therefore, they should weigh their words carefully, remembering that they are speaking to the God of heaven and earth. Just as overthinking the day’s concerns can lead to a restless night’s sleep, talking to God more than listening to Him is foolish (Isaiah 29:13-14; Matthew 6:7-13).
Also, if they made promises to Him, they were to fulfill them quickly and without excuse (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). It would be better never to tell God they would do anything than to tell Him they would and then fail to follow through (Matthew 21:28-31). Lying to God is foolish, and because of careless or insincere words, God might destroy the work of their hands (Acts 5:1-10). A mind full of concerns and a mouth filled with too many words are empty and futile. God must be kept in His proper place. Instead of approaching Him casually or trying to manipulate Him with our prayers, we should honor Him with reverence (Hebrews 12:28-29).
