The sacrifices that are well-pleasing to God - Prudence and Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 5:1 (a) “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.”

This is so relevant for the church today! 

There is a corporate and personal understanding of “the house of God” in this Scripture. In the corporate sense, Peter wrote, {1 Peter 2:5} “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And for us individually, Paul wrote, {1 Corinthians 6:19} “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own.”  It is important to consider and apply this exhortation on both levels.

When people come together to worship and honour God, especially in a church setting, whether it’s in prayer, songs, offerings, teaching, ministry, celebrating the Lord’s Supper or just doing what needs to be done, they most often have a set agenda to work to – the one set out for them by the leadership, congregation or of their own design. 

Solomon is very clear here, doing so without first consulting God is foolish. And not only that, it is considered evil!

When people come together to worship God and bring the sacrifices of their hearts, the most important thing is to be quiet, i.e., waiting upon the Lord and listening. The most important “mind” that should matter is the mind of God. Another way to put it would be, {Ecclesiastes 5:1(b)} “to draw near, to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools (carelessly, arrogantly), too ignorant to know that they are doing evil.” 

As we endeavour to do what we think is right and do not consider God - in any form or act of our worship - when we omit Him and disregard Him, we fulfil exactly what foolishness is defined as.

We find a good example of this in Isaiah 58 too. A very religious, self-righteous Israel complained to the Lord, and God responded, {vs 2-3} “Day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?’”  Whereafter God pointed out that He’s always after people’s hearts and not what they should sacrifice or ritually do. 

He desires loving obedience and complete devotion. That is the essence of true fasting, not eating the “food” of the world, but living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

When we realise that we are the house of God, the house of prayer, individually and corporately, it is wise to consult Holy Spirit first, in fact prudent to do so, and wise to act on His leading. Before we speak on behalf of God, or even on behalf of ourselves, always ask, “Lord, what is your take on this?” 

Initially, it might prove difficult as we so easily react as we did before, and bring what we consider sacrifices worthy of His attention, just as Cain did. That is why we must choose to wait upon the Lord, wait upon Him first, as an active discipline. And as we collaborate with Holy Spirit continuously, the process can become so cemented that one can eventually follow Jesus’ example and say, {John 14:24} “These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” And, {John 6:63} “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of the Spirit and life.” 

That’s prudent and discerning, and you will then avoid doing things that the Father never required of you. You will avoid being foolish, and you will stay in step and on track with Holy Spirit. 

When we approach God, it should always be about His agenda and the things He has on His mind. Our thankful, loving response is to obey, to follow Him and to worship Him in ways He truly appreciates.

Blessings

Ben

Our thanks to Ben for this month’s Blog contribution

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