Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ecclesiastes 1-6.
“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” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).
As Solomon and the Jews would go to the temple to worship, we go to various locations to worship God today. The wise man’s warning is necessary for us: be careful how you worship God.
It is certainly commendable for one to have the desire to worship God. But God desires worshipers who will worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). If we do not worship in truth, we are practicing “self-made religion” that is “of no value” (Colossians 2:23). If we do not follow the divine pattern (2 Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 8:5), we are “teaching as doctrines the precepts of men,” making it so that our worship is being offered “in vain” (Matthew 15:9).
This is why Solomon says, “Draw near to listen.” Before we presume to offer worship to God, expecting Him to be pleased, we must listen to His word and find out what He desires. We are told, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).
If we fail to consult His word to find out what type of worship He will accept, then we will be guilty of offering “the sacrifice of fools.” Many well-intentioned people in the religious world do what seems right to them, but “they do not know they are doing evil.” Solomon said elsewhere, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Do not be guilty of offering “the sacrifice of fools.” Listen to God’s word and worship Him according to His standard.
Tomorrow’s reading: Ecclesiastes 7-12
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
