Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
The next thing Solomon observed was that people get into trouble in their lives and they think making God promises will fix their trouble. He very thoroughly goes over the truth that what fixes trouble is LISTENING to God, not telling God what you’re going to do. And people get themselves into more trouble by talking because it’s not what goes in the mouth that defiles the man, it’s what comes out of his mouth. Matthew 15:11, Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. And this is what Solomon is saying repeatedly.
Be ready to listen in the house of God (vs 1)
- Faith is about listening.
- When I get around God I’m not considering that the LORD takes my words and promises more seriously than I do.
- The Lord doesn’t need my commitment, he wants my surrender. Better yet, I DON’T need my commitment, I need to surrender.
- The Lord doesn’t want my promises, he wants me to accept His promises. Better yet, I DON’T need to promise God anything, I need to accept His promises.
Be slow to speak before God (vs 2)
- James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
- W.A.I.T (Why Am I Talking?)
- Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Identifying a fool by their voice (vs 3)
- You know what an orange is by what it looks like and tastes like. You know what a car is because of what it looks like. And everyone knows a fool by what comes out of their mouth. Because a fool won’t control their mouth, eventually, in the multitude of words, eventually they say things that betray that they are fools.
- (Matthew 12:33-37)
- Beware of false prophets…What is false about these men is their prophesying. They are false prophets. Apparently you can’t tell anything about them by their appearance. But because the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart, it’s not necessary to judge them by their appearance – which is evidently deceiving – but to judge by the words that come out of their mouths.
- …which come to you in sheep’s clothing… You won’t be able to tell anything by their appearance. In fact, their appearance is their deception.
- …but inwardly they are ravening wolves. These false prophets and false teachers desire only to live off of the congregations. God uses the example of Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness.
- The fruit of their lips (vs 16) means Ye shall know them by their fruits.
- Proverbs 18:20-21 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- These are false prophets and so beware of what comes out of their mouth.
- Tree illustration (vss 17-18). Matthew 3:7-12 was John the Baptist’s warning to the religious leaders about the axe being laid to the root. Matthew 12:31-37… the Lord Jesus Christ’s warning to the religious leaders.
- The point is foolishness is identified by what comes out of someone’s mouth.
Pay what you promised (vss 4-5)
- The common teaching of the law is keep your promises or mean what you say or it will cost you.
- Leviticus 5:1,4-13
- Deuteronomy 23:21-23 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. 22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. 23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
- But here’s what’s better. DON’T VOW!!
- Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Sin that comes out of your mouth (vs 6)
- Your mouth is writing checks your body can’t cash.
- Matthew 23:16-22
Fear God by controlling your mouth (vs 7)
- So fearing God looks like controlling your mouth.
- Gossip
- Flattery
- Murmuring
- Lies
- Excuses
- James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
