Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Fear God
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. 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. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
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[c] 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? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Why, because God not looking at the amount of money you are giving as the plate is being passed, or who you sit by, not even the services you have rendered, such as teaching, no it is your heart attitude. His desire is for each of us to come ready to listen, and learn, and to apply those teaching in our daily lives. Church, we must as the people of God hear what God is saying in this verse; “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. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. In our public prayers be careful that you are talking to God and not those who folks around you!
I believe a pastor or leader who tells his people to make a pledge but if their circumstances change God will not hold them to the vow they made, has led many a person to sin. God is very clear in the Scriptures on it is better not to make a vow, (pledge) unless you know you have the resources to meet the amount. “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 me close with this word from the teacher; God is the one you must fear.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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