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When it comes to worship, our modern instinct is often to make things as comfortable as possible. Good coffee, padded chairs, climate control, engaging music—none of these are bad in themselves. But Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 warns us that public worship is not about our comfort—it’s about approaching a holy God with caution, reverence, and awe.

The Preacher’s message is clear: If we fear God, we will approach Him with care. And he gives us three ways to do that.

1. Be Careful That You Listen (v. 1)

“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…” (v. 1)

In Solomon’s day, people came to the temple with sacrifices, but many were just going through the motions. They checked the “worship” box without truly hearing God’s Word.

Listening is the starting point of worship. Before we speak, sing, or serve, we must hear from God. That means more than simply being in the room—it means engaging our hearts and minds when Scripture is read and preached.

Practical ways to listen well:

  • Come prepared – read the passage beforehand, rest well the night before, and pray for God to speak.

  • Limit distractions – choose a seat that helps you focus, and silence devices.

  • Engage actively – open your Bible, take notes, and respond in your heart to what you hear.

Worship isn’t about offering God what we think He’ll like—it’s about doing what He says pleases Him. And the only way to know that is to listen first.

2. Be Careful How You Speak (vv. 2–3)

“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God…” (v. 2)

In the temple, after the sacrifice and the reading of Scripture, the people would respond in prayer. The warning here isn’t against prayer itself, but against thoughtless prayer—saying many words without engaging the heart and mind.

Jesus echoed this in Matthew 6:7–8: “When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases… your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

This doesn’t mean prayers can’t be long or repeated—Jesus Himself prayed all night at times and repeated prayers in Gethsemane. The issue is mindless prayer, where the tongue wags while the mind sleeps.

Ways to speak carefully in worship:

  • Engage your body – bow your head, close your eyes, or lift your hands to help focus.

  • Agree aloud – say “Amen” when you hear a prayer that resonates with your heart.

  • Personalize public prayer – silently apply what’s being prayed to your own life.

  • Remember who you’re speaking to – God is in heaven, holy and exalted; we are on earth, dependent and small.

Careless words before God dishonor Him. Careful, thoughtful words reflect the fear of the Lord.

3. Be Careful What You Do (vv. 4–7)

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for He has no pleasure in fools…” (v. 4)

In Old Testament worship, people sometimes made vows to God—promises of commitment or sacrifice. Solomon warns that making a vow and not keeping it is serious sin.

We may think we don’t make vows today, but we do—often without realizing it. We make vows in:

  • Marriage – promising faithfulness before God.

  • Songs we sing – lyrics like “I surrender all” or “Take my life” are vows.

  • Church membership – committing to worship, holiness, unity, service, and mission.

Breaking such vows is not trivial. It’s treating God’s name lightly. If we fear God, we will keep our word to Him.

The sobering reality is that none of us have perfectly listened, spoken, or acted as we should in worship. We all fall short, which means we all deserve the judgment Ecclesiastes warns about.

The Gospel Motivation for Careful Worship

In the temple, worship began with a sacrifice—then came listening, speaking, and responding in obedience. But those sacrifices had to be offered again and again because they couldn’t ultimately remove sin.

Then Jesus came. He is the only One who perfectly listened to God’s Word, spoke to God without sin, and obeyed God completely. Though He deserved only God’s pleasure, He bore God’s wrath for us on the cross. His death was the final sacrifice, and His resurrection opened the way for us to draw near to God—not in terror, but in joy.

In Christ, our worship is covered by His righteousness. We listen carefully, speak thoughtfully, and keep our vows faithfully—not to earn God’s favor, but because Jesus has already secured it.

Take the Next Step

Ecclesiastes 5 reminds us that worship is serious—it’s entering the presence of the holy, living God. But for those who trust in Christ, that same God invites us to draw near with confidence.

So guard your steps:

  • Listen carefully to His Word.

  • Speak thoughtfully in prayer and praise.

  • Keep your commitments to Him faithfully.

And do it all knowing that the greatest comfort in worship isn’t a padded seat or perfect coffee—it’s the assurance that in Christ, God receives you with joy.