Timothy Theodore Duncan was born on April 25, 1976 in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Tim Duncan is an NBA legend who began his athletic career in the hopes of making a career as a swimmer until Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic sized pool on the island. Duncan was drafted first in the 1997 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs and went on to play 19 seasons with the organization. Listen to his resume: five-time NBA Champion, two-time NBA MVP, a three-time NBA Finals MVP, 15-time NBA All-Star, and the only player in NBA history to be selected both All-NBA and All-Defensive teams for 13 consecutive seasons. Tim Duncan is quite simply one of the best basketball players in history but he’s game was incredibly boring.
Duncan was not flashy nor did he possess uncanny athletic ability. He was just consistent, steady, and dependable. His nickname was the Big Fundamental because he excelled at the basic fundamentals of the game of basketball. When you ask aspiring basketball players, rarely do they say they want to be the next Tim Duncan because his game was too boring and unassuming. Who wants to be known as fundamentally sound?
Greatness in the Kingdom of God is not about a flash of brilliance, but as Eugene Peterson has aptly said, long obedience in the same direction. Greatness in Christ is being faithful to Christ for a lifetime. We should desire to be Tim Duncans in our Christian walk, big on the fundamentals of the faith.
The Preacher in Ecclesiastes provides four fundamental principles in how we approach God in worship. If we focus on these four principles, we will demonstrate a consistent and steady and dependable walk with Christ. It may not be flashy, but it will be fundamentally sound. For at the end of the day, what is better than faithfulness to Christ?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). One of the major themes in Ecclesiastes is for people to fear the Lord. Martin Luther provided two aspects of fear that is helpful as we approach this passage: servile and filial fear. Servile fear is a dreadful anxiety of someone who is frightened by another person who wants to do them harm like the fear of prisoner in a torture chamber as he faces his tormenter. Filial fear is fear and anxiety of offending someone you love and are afraid of bringing them displeasure like a son wanted to bring joy and honor to their father who is the source of their security and love.[1] The worship of God should be marked by a filial fear for God is not a benevolent master, but one who is not mocked. As Charles Bridges defined the fear of God as “grand fundamental of godliness.[2]” Ecclesiastes 5:1-7,
[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, for they do not know that they are doing evil. [2] 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. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
[4] When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [6] 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? [7] For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
The goal of our worship should help us grow in the fear of the Lord. There are four encouragements and/or warnings that Solomon offers to help his hearers grow in their fear of the Lord.
Fear God in Worship by Guarding the Heart
The Preacher begins by encouraging people to prepare themselves as they approach the Lord. Ecclesiastes 5:1, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” The house of God is referring to the temple where God’s presence was manifested in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ came as the living temple to manifest God’s presence to the world. John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Literally it means the word became flesh and tabernacle among us meaning God’s presence to us in Jesus Christ.
Jesus manifested the presence of God and now we as God’s people filled with the Holy Spirit manifest the presence of God to the world through our relationship with Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17, “[16] Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? [17] If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” The Holy Spirit dwells in us individually as believers and corporately as a congregation. Peter makes the same point in his epistle, 1 Peter 2:4–5, “[4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We no longer go to the temple but we gather as the temple of God, living stones being built into a spiritual house. The expectation of the Preacher is not if you go to the house of God, but when you go to the house of God.
There is so much in American society that is driven by self, but the Preacher just finished reminding us that two is better than one. Do not be deceived by the lie that we do not need to gather. During this season, video messages and watching services at home, is merely a poor substitute for the real gathering of the saints. For Christians, we should long to gather together. We should long to be with one another. We have to be wise during this season of sickness and virus, I pray that we do not lose the importance of gathering together. It is expectation throughout Scripture for the people to go to the house of the God.
And when we go, not if, we must guard our steps. The Preacher wants us to see that how we approach God matters to God. It is a dangerous thing to approach God in a casual manner. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and the seraphim calling out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of host: the whole earth is full of his glory!” he responded, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” When Peter realized that Jesus was sent from God the Father, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” God has called us into intimacy with him, but that does not mean we approach him casually. Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, approached the Lord in an unworthy manner and were consumed by fire (Lev. 10:1-2). We are warned not to take the Lord’s supper in an unworthy manner lest we bring judgment upon ourselves (1 Cor 11:27-32).
How do you guard your steps when you come to the house of the Lord? Have you prepared your heart for worship? Have you gotten a good night’s rest? Have you studied the passage that will be preached? Have you prayed for your heart to receive God’s Word? Have you prayed for the preacher of the Word? Have you prayed for the people that hear the Word, fellow members and visitors? Or is your approach more casual, nonchalant, flippant? If you had a meeting with the CEO of your company, how would you approach that meeting? We are approaching the Holy God of the Universe! Our Savior! Our Master! The Lord God Almighty! Does he not demand honor?
It is a fundamental of the faith to one, gather with the saints, and two, to be prepared for that gathering. We all have things going on in our lives, but if we regularly and consistently prepare our hearts for the worship of God we will protect our hearts from growing cold in our affections for Christ. Guard your hearts as you approach him.
Fear God in Worship by Listening with Humility
We demonstrate a fear of God by coming to listen to God with humility. When we come to listen, we are taking a creaturely stance before the Creator. We are not coming to judge God or confront, but to listen to what he says. Listening to God is one of the main spiritual disciplines of a believer. Ecclesiastes 5:1–3,
[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, for they do not know that they are doing evil. [2] 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. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. (ESV)
To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools. The sacrifice of fools is to come listen half-heartedly without the intention of following or as if you don’t need to learn what is being said. It is hypocrisy. It is prideful and arrogant. If we don’t listen for our own hearts, we will never allow the power and truthfulness of God’s word to hit and transform our hearts. Romans 10:17, “So faith come from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” How many times does Jesus say in his ministry, “He who has ears, let him hear.” We have to train our hearts to be ready to hear. Our ability to hear begins with our willingness to hear. Do we realize that we are creatures and need to hear the Word of God?
Beloved it is better for us to listen than to speak for God is in heaven and we are on earth. We are small and God is big. The Preacher is making this point again and again in Ecclesiastes. God is in charge of the times and the seasons of our life. We live, die, and are forgotten. God is eternal and whatever he does, endures forever. And yet, so often we approach God as if the opposite is true. We approach him half-heartedly and act as if we know more than or do not need his word. God is above, we are below. He is infinitely wise, we are limited in our knowledge. The Preacher is trying to remind us of our humanity. We are mortal and God is immortal. We are finite and he is infinite. Therefore, we should do more listening to God.
If this is true for our relationship with God, it is true with our relationship with one another. James says that every person should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. We should not be angry at the Lord for how he moves in our lives and the times and seasons that he has brought upon us and we should be patient with one another. Sometimes the best things we can do in our relationships is to listen and ask questions. Let us not act as if we are the source and the fountain of wisdom but let us remember that we are beggars in need of bread helping other beggars find bread. One of the words I have heard much in recent days with everything going on is to listen and learn. Let’s not assume we know how other people see the world but let us listen with humility. Friends, humble listening is fundamental to our relationships with one another and our relationship with God.
Beloved, do you think listening could help our witness? Do you think weeping with those who weep could help us understand one another? To draw near to listen is better than to offer half-hearted hypocritical worship to God and half-hearted hypocritical friendship to one another.
Friend, if you are here and not a follow of Christ, how you ever truly heard the gospel of Jesus Christ? I mean you may have heard the facts of the gospel, but have you allowed the words and their weight to penetrate you soul. The Bible says that the world was created good, but man fell into sin bringing corruption on all the earth and on all humanity. And because we are on the earth and God is in heaven, we will one day have to answer to him. Listen friend, the Bible says that everyone will perish in their sin. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The only way for us to overcome sin is for someone to pay for sin for us. This is the gospel. That God sent forth his Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life and to die a sinner’s death. The words of Christ spoken on the cross, “It is finished,” was a declaration that his work was done and salvation was now possible for all who turn from their sin and trust in Christ. The final word that was heard was not in the cross but in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Listen to that final word. Hear Peter’s words that he spoke at Pentecost at the dawn of the church, Acts 2:32–36,
[32] This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. [34] For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
[35] until I make your enemies your footstool.”
[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Friend, hear this word. There is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Listen to this word.
Before we move on to the next point, remember the context of the previous chapter. Solomon is addressing hypocrisy towards God for people are coming to “worship” but have hearts and lives that are far from God. Friend, God will not be mocked. Throughout the Holy Scriptures, God commands us to love him and to love our neighbors while the false gods of wealth, success, advancement, and achievement lead people to trample and oppress their neighbor. Hear David Gibson stunning warning,
And in the Bible, from state to end, from the prophets to the apostle Paul, there is a constant critique of those who oppress their neighbor and serve only themselves and yet turn up at the prayer meeting saying everything’s fine. The Preacher looks us in the eye: Watch out! Be careful! You need to know approaching God can be dangerous if you’re approaching him thinking he couldn’t care less what is really happening in your heart and about how you’re treating your spouse or your colleagues or your family member.
The Preacher says approaching God with a heart that cares more about yourself and your success is a sacrifice of fools, for in your “worship” you do not know you are doing evil. God desires us to be concerned with loving him and loving our neighbor. The life of Christ is a life lived for others. It is hard to articulate all that I see happening in the world, but I fear that there will be way too many believers who come to the house of God today with hearts bent on self and offering a sacrifice of fools, forgetting that God is in heaven and they are on the earth. Beloved, guard your steps when you come to worship. Come ready to listen and learn from the Lord. For if you don’t, you may be danger. God will not be mocked for he knows how you live and the real reason you have come to worship.
Fear God in Worship by Speaking with Humility & Acting with Honor
I want to wed these last two points into one as the text links them together. After listening to the Word of God and understanding our frame before our Creator God, we then should speak with humility and act with honor (doing what we say). The fundamentals of the Christian faith and a holy life before God is to listen before you speak and then speak ready to act. Ecclesiastes 5:2–7
[2] 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. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
[4] When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. [5] It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [6] 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? [7] For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
Out of the mouth the heart speaks. We need to listen to God before we speak. And when we speak we need to keep what we say.
Every word is spoken before God. Every post, tweet, share is also spoken before God. Let not your mouth (or Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts) lead you into sin for God has no pleasure in fools. Solomon connects many words to many dreams. As Ryken notes,
The Preacher’s comparison is familiar to anyone who sleeps, and perchance also dreams. When we have been working hard to get caught up in our earthly business, we are likely to have many strange dreams at night. There is a natural connection. Similarly, there is a close connection between folly and verbosity…as a general rule, fools are loquacious. They rarely keep their thoughts to themselves but tend to do a lot of talking.[3]
We must guard our words. Charles Bridges adds, “The fewness of the words is not the main concern; but whether they be the words of the heart.[4]” Are you one who speaks with sincerity? Do you speak and then follow through? As Jesus said, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” (Matthew 5:37) And James, “The tongue is fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)
Our words reveal our hearts. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. Oh, how many times have I said things I regretted? How many times have I wished I remained silent or said something better or more clear or with more grace and compassion? I am not alone. Friend, we must be careful with our words. Let me plead with you, especially during these days when words are many, speak carefully and in the sight of God. Our words reveal our hearts.
There is much I could say in how we use our words with one another. We want to use our words to build up and not tear down, to encourage not discourage, to exhort not condemn, to strengthen not weaken, to bless and not curse. I pray that all our words will always be gracious, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer each person. Although we can apply this passage in how we use our words with one another, the main focus is how we use our words with God.
The Preacher wants us to come to worship with sincerity of heart, in spirit and in truth. How many times have you made false vows to God? Speaking falsely to one another is bad enough, but promising and not fulfilling vows to God who is in heaven? That is a very dangerous and foolish course of action. We must not play with God. When you vow to God, pay what you owe.
Beloved, we will not perfectly fulfill our vows. We owe a debt to God that we cannot pay, but thanks be to God who has kept His vow perfectly on our behalf. Jesus said to the Father in his high priestly prayer, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” Jesus fulfilled his vow. Colossians 2:13–14,
[13] And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
The debt is canceled.
“Tetelestai!” was a Greek word that was stamped on a promissory note when it paid in full. It was also used to report the completion of a mission, a vow fulfilled, ‘tetelestai.’ Jesus would hang on the cross and in a loud voice declare, “Tetelestai: It is finished.” The vow was paid in full. The redemptive work was complete. We cannot fulfill our vows without Christ, but in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live in the fear of God, the big fundamental of the faith. When we look to cross and see our debt paid in blood, we will come to worship with glad and sincere hearts ready to listen and speak with humility and to act in honor.
Friend, we must approach God with heart of worship understanding that he is in heaven and we are on earth. We live knowing that we can’t pay what we owe, but, as the words of the great hymn of the faith,
I hear the savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in me thine all in all
Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
[1] Adapted from R.C. Sproul in Table Talk Magazine. https://www.ligonier.org/blog/what-does-it-mean-fear-god/
[2] Bridges, A Commentary on Ecclesiastes. 109.
[3] Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p. 123). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
[4] Ryken, P. G. (p. 124).
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