Today we will look at Ecclesiastes 5:1-3. They say that we speak a small novel everyday. That is a lot of words! The author of Ecclesiastes will tell us that we must make sure those words are short and meaningful in the presence of our higher power.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. (Eccles. 5:1) Through the offering of sacrifices the ancient Hebrew people felt that they communed with God, their higher power. Through that communal time they may express gratitude by making vows of offerings that they obviously didn't have with them but could bring later. This is what he is talking about here. The problem is that some people would make promises and not keep them.
He continues on: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Eccles. 5:2) This continues the thought in the first verse. He is warning the readers that words ill-spoken can get you in to trouble. The basis of this is again in the religious laws that governed the ancient Hebrews' worship and relationship to God and their morality before him. To make vows before God and not keep them was a sin. This could incur the judgment of God. Solomon is telling the readers to recognize their place on earth and recognize God's place in heaven.
Verse three says: As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. (Eccles. 5:3) Just as when there are a lot of things going on in our lives we dream. We don't have control over them. So a fool when he speaks he doesn't have control over them either.
The applications to addictive and compulsive people are legion. How many times have we said to God something to the effect: "I'll stop tomorrow just get me home safely tonight." God I'll never _____again if you will just let me keep my _______. You fill in the blank. The problem is that the power to carry those things out isn't there because they are made in the midst of sickness and delusion. The addictive compulsive mind can't make sound decisions.
In recovery we soon learn that in the presence of our higher power we practice serenity. We listen quietly. We allow ourselves to allow him to be all that he is to us with the all important caveat "as we understand him." In the same sense we allow ourselves to be eveything we are and nothing we think we are. Our prayers are simple: We ask for the knowledge of his will and the power to carry that out.
God is not swayed nor amused by the many words and vows of fools that become sin to them. They result in judgement: The consequences of verbal vomit and constant badgering of God, family and friends. Those of us who suffer from addiction and compulsivity is that no one takes us seriously when we talk. As we move into sobriety and recovery we learn to say no when we mean no. Yes when we mean yes and apologize quickly (step 10) when we realize we have erred.
Our time is up for today. Keep coming back it works if you work it and you're worth it.
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