If Only We Revered God (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)
Sermon Notes
Sermon Series: Ecclesiastes - Striving After Wind
Sermon Title: If Only We Revered God
Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
Preacher: Robin Philip
1. Guard Your Step - Approach God Carefully (v. 1)
5:1 is not simply asking, “Do you worship?” It is asking, “How do you approach the God you worship?”
Qoheleth gives us a reality check: religious activity can become foolishness when our hearts are not rightly aligned with God or have a proper view of God.
Guard your steps, how? Not merely by your own instincts, by the Word of God (Ps 119:105).
2. Guard Your Mouth - Don’t Give God Lip Service (v. 2–6)
Deut 23:21–23 says, “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not be slow to pay it... You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips.”
God wants honest obedience, not lip service.
Does my life back up what my lips say I believe?
3. Guard Your Heart — Fear God Truly (v. 7)
Definition of Fear: Awe-filled reverence that yields humble submission, trusting obedience, and worship before a holy God.
We guard our hearts by continually bringing our view of God back into alignment with reality, that is wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil...
Proverbs 14:26 - In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence.
Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Matthew 10:28 - Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Reflection:
Is God truly in His rightful place in your life today?
What do you fear most—and does your life reveal that you fear the Lord above all else?
