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The Bible Breakdown
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The Bible Breakdown
Ecclesiastes 05: Talk is Cheap
Can we really find joy in the mundane tasks of everyday life, even in a job we might not love? Join us as we uncover profound insights from Solomon's timeless wisdom in Ecclesiastes, focusing on the intriguing theme, "Talk Is Cheap." In this episode, we explore Solomon’s call to prioritize listening over speaking, especially in the context of worship. Discover why he emphasizes the importance of keeping our words few and meaningful and warns against making rash promises to God. We'll delve into the deeper significance of maintaining reverence in places of worship and being mindful of our actions and words.
Additionally, we discuss the wisdom of finding joy in life's various seasons, even during challenging times. Learn how Solomon's teachings encourage us to appreciate our current work, view our lot in life as a gift from God, and seek joy in the present moment. We’ll also touch on the importance of seeking better opportunities while finding contentment with what we have. As we wrap up, we reflect on Solomon's ultimate message in Ecclesiastes 12:13, reminding ourselves that a life well-lived is one centered on God. Join us for a heartfelt prayer, thanking God for the wisdom to find joy in everyday tasks and the key to a fulfilling life.
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The More You Dig. The More You Find.
Well, everyone, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, and today's title is Talk is Cheap, talk is cheap. I'm going to tell you something. Preacher Solomon, he's getting on us. I mean, the past couple of days he ain't been messing around, he's just telling us like it is. He's going to tell us even more, like it is today. So we might as well go ahead, get started, because he's got something to say to us and we're going to jump into it in just a moment. But, as always, if you like what we're doing here, make sure you like, share and subscribe to YouTube channel and the podcast. Make sure you're leaving us a five-star review on the podcast it really does help and make sure you're doing two things. Number one you're going to the Bible breakdown discussion on Facebook because, man, the more we dig, the more we find, and they do an amazing job over there every day putting those posts out that really help clarify and deepen our walk with God as we're walking through God's word. Also, go to wwwthebiblebreakdowncom and you can subscribe to get all of this information that we send out, plus more as we come across it. We'll send it to you every morning, so that you can have as much of God's word as we can give you. Well, if you have your Bibles, I want to open up with me to Ecclesiastes, chapter 5. I'm so curious already if some of you can tell, because, if you remember, I said at the very beginning that this was going to be one of those books of the Bible. There wasn't going to be a lot of people in the middle. You're either going to love it or you're going to absolutely be like. This one's not for me, because Solomon, just don't mess around. He's the wisest man to ever live, and he is telling us I did it all, I tried it all. A life well lived is a life full of God, and so he's just systematically talking about different things that just don't work, and he's been talking about how political power doesn't work. Working hard just for the sake of hard work leaves you empty. If you do it, though, because it's an act of worship to God, that's different, right. And then he talks about having money. All these different things, all of them by themselves are meaningless. It's like chasing the wind, but what he's continually building the case for is all of these things. With God, that's where it's at. So I'm going to go ahead and kind of tell you that he's heading somewhere with all of this, but we're letting him build the case and he's going to continue to build the case today with Ecclesiastes, chapter 5. And so, if you're ready, we're going to dive in and we'll talk about the idea of talk is cheap.
Speaker 1:Here we go, verse 1. As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open, your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. Don't make rash promises and don't be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, god is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. Too much activity gives you restless dreams and too many words make you a fool. Now pause. So first of all, he's saying don't talk too much. And I don't know about you, but I've never gotten in trouble by not talking. I get myself in trouble when I open my mouth and insert my foot. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:But the other thing I love about this is you know, depending on your tradition and where you come from, you come into church very differently. Now I will tell you, because I grew up in church my dad was a pastor. I like to think of church as it's almost like my second home, and so I'm very comfortable when I walk into a church, but at the same time, that means that a lot of times I will forget that I'm walking into a building. That's just a building, right Like we. We, the people, are the ecclesia, the church of God. But this building has been consecrated. It has been set aside as a place for God's people. Therefore, there's a certain set of just respect that you have for a place, and it reminds me of people who there was this. One time I went to this church and these people had this kind of tradition that when they would have so much fun when they're walking in, but they're walking into the auditorium, the sanctuary, they'd walk into this place. They would get really quiet. They would go to wherever they were going to sit, they'd put their Bible down and then they would kneel down at where they were sitting and they would take a moment and it was almost like they were just collecting themselves, taking a deep breath, pausing, remembering why they were there. Then they would get up and they would go back to talking. But there was a sense of reverence there and it was because I have entered into the place that's been consecrated and dedicated as a place of worship. That's powerful. It's something to think about that I don't think is a bad idea. I don't think there's anything wrong with realizing this is the place where we meet with, and that's kind of, I think, what Solomon's talking about.
Speaker 1:Verse 4 says this when you make promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Come on now, solomon. Praise the Lord. Don't let your mouth make you sin and don't defend yourself by telling the temple messenger that you promise you will make that you promise. Wait a minute, let me try that again.
Speaker 1:Verse six Don't let your mouth make you sin and don't defend yourself by telling the temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. There you go. That would make God angry and he might wipe out everything you have achieved. That's no good. Here we go. Verse seven Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead. Come on now, solomon. Don't hurt him. All right, you're hurting us over here.
Speaker 1:Verse 8. Don't be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land, for every official is under orders from higher up. And matters of justice. Solomon, stop it now, all right? Verse 11. More you have, the more people will come to help you spend it.
Speaker 1:So what good is wealth, except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers? Verse 12,. People work hard and sleep well, whether they eat little or much, but the rich seldom get a good night's sleep. Verse 13,. There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and as empty-handed as the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us, and this too is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than they came. All their hard work is for nothing, like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud, frustrated, discouraged and angry. Even so, I have noticed one thing at least that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and good health and to enjoy it, to enjoy your work and accept your lot in life. This is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life. They take no time to brood over the past.
Speaker 1:Wow. First of all, solomon's just done offended all of us. There's something probably in that chapter that you go ooh boy, he could have kept going on that one. But you know, what I love Is throughout this dark rain cloud of a human being, because he's just being honest, he's being where it is. I love that. You see the end man. It just fires me up Because I don't do this, but I want to.
Speaker 1:He says enjoy your work and accept your lot in life and let that be enough. I love that so much and I get that I'm a pastor. For many of you, I'm not saying I love being a pastor, I love being a pastor, I love being your pastor. What I'm saying is I'm always wanting to be better, to do more, to do better at what I do, to honor God with what I do, and I'm sure you're the same way. But he was saying God keeps such people who just simply enjoy their work and accept their lot in life. He keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over what could have been, what should have been. Instead, they're so busy just going. You know what? This is the life that I have. I'm going to do my best to do my best. They're so busy in the moment that they don't have enough time to worry about the past. That's beautiful and that's hard to do, but what a worthy investment. So I want to challenge you with this today. He said I'm going to say it one more time, verse 19,. It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and good health to enjoy it, to enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life. This is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Speaker 1:Here's a couple of challenges. Number one are you enjoying your season in life? I'm not saying it's perfect. I'm not saying that you don't wish for things to be better in certain situations. I'm not going to do that. But I'm saying this season of life are you finding enjoyment? If not, why not? Why not? Don't say because it's hard, because every season's hard, right? I mean, can we just agree with that? Every season has a certain amount of hard to it, so it's already going to be hard, no matter what it is. Even if you were to win the lottery tomorrow, it would be hard figuring out how to spend it. Right, it's always hard. But if you're not enjoying your life, would these two things make it better To just find a way to enjoy the work put in front of you and to accept that this is the season you're in, whether you like it or not, just to accept it for what it is?
Speaker 1:So, for instance, you're, you're the work, you're in life. Maybe you're a mom right now and your, your kids, are in a really difficult season. Instead of wishing they were in a season from before, or wishing they were a season ahead, what would it look like if you just accepted it? They're in this season, whether I like it or not. They're a gift from God and God has given me this season.
Speaker 1:Or maybe you're working at a job you just absolutely can't stand. You just can't stand it. Oh, you can't stand it. Instead of wishing you had a job you used to have, or wishing you'd have a job somewhere else, go. You know what, god? I'm going to continue to look for another job, but I'm going to be content with the one I have while I have it, because here's one thing I know about seasons they change, they always change. Nothing remains the same. The only thing that remains the same is the love of God. Everything else changes, everything else moves in cycles, and so, according to Solomon and the inspired word of God, the happy people that are enjoying life are the ones who enjoy the work in front of them and they accept their lot in life and they realize that both of these are a gift from God. Wow, how challenging is that.
Speaker 1:Let's pray, god. Thank you so much for hurting our feelings today, because it's good wisdom, god. It's good, good wisdom to challenge us. To challenge us that it's okay to want more, but it's not okay to devalue what's in front of us. I pray, god, that as we seek better jobs, we seek to do better in these. That's okay, but to never let it steal or rob the joy of a simple day, to enjoy the work you've put before us and to see it as a gift, to enjoy the season you put before us, to see it as a gift, to realize, god, that we're complaining about something that somebody else is praying for.
Speaker 1:Help us to find the joy today. In Jesus' name we pray, amen, amen. Let me tell you something. I'm going to highlight this and I'm going to write this down somewhere, because I need this, if you don't just to find the simple joy in realizing that the key to a life well lived is a life full of God. God's Word says. Solomon says at the very end of this chapter 12, verse 13,. Here is now my final conclusion Fear God and obey his commands. A life well lived is a life full of God. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow, for
