Humility in Worship; Satisfaction in a Job Well Done

Ecclesiastes 5

Outline

1-3 | Approach God in humility and in silence
4-7 | Fear God and don’t make hasty vows.  If you make a vow keep it quickly.
8-9 | Oppression does not go unnoticed
10-12 | Riches do not satisfy completely
13-17 | The pursuit of riches does not guarantee safety
18-20 | The Gifts of God: enjoy life and the work he is given to do

Reflections

The headings in the NASB divide this chapter into two parts.

  1. Your Attitude Toward God — vv. 1-9
  2. The Folly of Riches — vv. 10-20

It seems appropriate that these two topics should be in the same chapter.  Why? Remember what Jesus said about serving God.

Matthew 6:24 NASB “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Luke 16:13 NASB “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

That does not mean that God will not bless a person’s effort and as a resulting the person becoming prosperous.  I’ve met many a godly person through the years whom God had blessed monetarily but who also had a humble spirit.

That I believe is the key to this matter.  Consider verse 1 of this chapter and then also verse 19.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 NASB 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 5:19 NASB Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

An attitude of humility can go along way in our approach to God.  I did a quick search using the e-Sword software for the word “humble, humbled, humbles, humbling, humbly” and found these references.

Exodus 10:3; Leviticus 16:29,31; 23:27,29,32; 26:41; Numbers 12:3; 29:7; 30:13; Deuteronomy 8:2,3,16; 21:14; II Samuel 6:22; I Kings 21:29; II Kings 22:19; II Chronicles 7:14; 12:6,7,12; 28:19; 30:11; 32:26; 33:12,19,23; 34:27; 36:12; Ezra 8:21; Job 22:29; 40:12; Psalms 10:17; 25:9; 34:2; 35:13; 37:11; 69:32; 76:9; 107:12; 113:6; Proverbs 6:3; 11:2; 16:19; 29:23; Ecclesiastes 10:6; Isaiah 2:9,11,17; 5:15; 58:3,5; 66:2; Ezekiel 22:10,11; Daniel 4:37; 5:19,22; 10:12; Amos 2:7; 8:4; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 11:29; 18:4; 23:12; Luke 1:48,52; 14:11; 18:14; II Corinthians 11:7; Philippians 2:8; 3:21; 4:12; James 1:9; 4:6,10; I Peter 3:8; 5:5,6;

Then I looked fo references to humility and found these.

Proverbs 15:33; 18:12; 22:4; Zephaniah 2:3; Acts 20:19; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:12; James 1:21; I Peter 5:5;

Finally, another word that refers to a humble attitude is contrite.

Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2; Jeremiah 44:10;

There are far too many verses to list them all in this post (see the attached PDF) but I think it is important to say that our attitude toward God is the key to many of life’s issues.  How we think about ourselves, how we relate to others, how we approach work, what we do with the things God has blessed us with, etc.

Lord, Sustainer and Provider, I/we pray that I/we never become to proud or hasty in my/our attitude toward You or the things with which You have blessed me/us.  Help me/us to see the work You have given me/us to do as a blessing and not a burden.  Help me/us to rejoice in all my/our days so the You will be glorified and I/we may not sin against You.  May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Ecclesiastes 5 - Humility in Worship; Satisfaction in a Job Well Done
Ecclesiastes 5 - Humility in Worship; Satisfaction in a Job Well Done
Ecclesiastes_05_RL_HumilityInWorship-SatisfactionInAJobWellDone.pdf
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Verses Related to Humility
Verses Related to Humility
VeersesRelatedToHumility.pdf
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