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Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 ERV


Be Careful About Making Promises             

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 Be very careful when you go to worship God. It is better to listen to God than to give sacrifices like fools. Fools often do bad things, and they don't even know it.

Be careful when you make promises to God, Be careful about what you say to him. Don't let your feelings cause you to speak too soon. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth. So you need to say only a few things to him. This saying is true;

Bad dreams come from too many worries, and too many words come from the mouth of a fool.

If you make a promise to God, keep, your promise. Don't be slow to do what you promised. God is not happy with fools. Give God what you promised to give him,

It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it.

So don't let your words cause you to sin. Don't say to the priest, "I didn't mean what I said," if you do this, God might become angry with your words and destroy everything you have worked for.

You should not let your useless dreams and bragging bring you trouble. You should respect God.

The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-6 Moses' father-in-law was named Jethro. Jethro was a priest of Midian. Moses took care of Jethro's sheep. One day Moses led the sheep to the west side of the desert. He went to a mountain called Horeb, the mountain of God.

On that mountain, Moses saw the angel of the LORD in a burning bush. Moses saw a bush that was burning without being destroyed.

So he decided to go closer to the bush and see how a bush could continue burning without being burned up.

The LORD saw Noses was coming to look at the bush. So he called to him from the bush. He said, "Moses, Moses!" Moses said, "Yes, Lord."

Then God said, "Don't come any closer, Take off your sandals. You are standing on holy ground.

I am the God of your ancestors. I am the God Abraham, the God Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

1 Samuel 15:17-23 Samuel said, "In the past you didn't think that you were important, but the LORD choose you to be the king. So you became the leader of the tribes of Israel.

The LORD sent you on a special mission. He said, 'Go and destroy all the Amalekites. They are evil people. Destroy them all! Fight them until they are completely finished.'

So why didn't you listen to the LORD? You did what the LORD said is wrong because you wanted to keep what you took in battle."

Saul said, "But I did obey the LORD! I went where the LORD sent me. I destroyed all the Amalekites. I brought back only one--their king Agag.

And the soldiers took the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

But Samuel answered, "Which pleases the LORD more; burnt offerings and sacrifices or obeying his commands?  It is better to obey the LORD than to offer  sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to him than to offer the fat from rams.

Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Being stubborn and doing what you want is like the sin of worshipping idols. You refused to obey the LORD's command, so he now refuses to accept you as king."

Proverbs 20:24-25 The LORD guides our steps, and we never know where he will lead us.

Think carefully before you promise to give something to God. Later, you might wish you had not made that promise.

Proverbs 10:18-22 People sometimes lie to hide their hatred, but saying bad things about someone is even more foolish.

A person who talks too much gets into trouble. A wise person learns to be quiet.

Words from good people are like pure silver, but thoughts from the wicked are worthless.

Good people say things that help others, but the wicked die from a lack of understanding.

It is the LORD's blessing that brings wealth, and no hard work can add to it.