I invite you to open a Bible to Ecclesiastes and to read the fifth chapter on your own, taking a moment to reflect on the text in silence.

This chapter begins with a stern warning that deserves to be remembered not only each time you enter a church building but also each time you begin to pray. Entering a place of prayer, physical or mental, should be done purposefully and with intent; careless prayer and empty ritual are not useful. Listen, ponder, and then speak meaningfully.

Making a vow to God is often done in desperate times or when one desires something greatly. Too often these vows are proposed as if the speaker is dealing with a different sort of spirit than God, a spirit that can somehow benefit from a trade. Too often promises like “I’ll never… again” are made in the attempt to sway the outcome of a dire situation. These vows, when sworn to God and not kept, are no more than lies to God and oneself. We do not need to offer God this sort of sacrifice in exchange for a temporal outcome for three reasons: it is not the kind of sacrifice that He finds pleasing, we are already free to approach God in confidence, and it is not for us to determine the blessings that we receive. This section ends with the alternative for us in moments of distress, which is to fear God. In this passage, to fear God is not to be struck with terror, but to feel His immense power in the face of both our finitude and the seemingly dire situation we find ourselves in. When our prayers end in “Thy will be done,” we are placing ourselves in God’s hands amidst the unknown and can be sure that He will protect us in ways that we cannot predict.

Next, there is a short aside about observing injustice. The fallen nature of the world and the corruption of its leaders both make it almost inevitable that there are injustices, so we should not be surprised. This is not a passage condemning social or political action. It merely seeks to prevent repeated indignant reactions and comfort the observer that there will be justice metered out by God.

An example of this expected injustice is the mismanagement of and abuse of money. The rich are warned to neither hoard money for its own sake nor to squander it. Money can easily become an idol rather than a tool, and it is the responsibility of one with wealth to use it wisely for their family and community.

This chapter ends with a message that rhymes with others that we have read in Ecclesiastes to far. Eating, drinking, and enjoying toil and its fruits are gifts from God during the days that we have to live. The addition this chapter offers is to also enjoy the wealth that one has by remembering that it to is a gift from God. The rich do not need to feel guilty for their wealth alone, but their source of joy should be the same as that of the poor: God in their hearts. This week, how can you remind yourself that God has your best interests at heart?