1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:06,730 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,790 --> 00:00:13,180 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,220 --> 00:00:16,940 Speaker 1: to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. I'm John Stonge 4 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:22,060 Speaker 1: and today we're in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 and we'll be 5 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: reading from the English Standard Version. Guard your steps when 6 00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:30,740 Speaker 1: you go to the house of God. To draw near 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,409 Speaker 1: to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, 8 00:00:35,060 --> 00:00:37,970 Speaker 1: for they do not know that they are doing evil. 9 00:00:38,970 --> 00:00:41,930 Speaker 1: Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart 10 00:00:41,990 --> 00:00:45,409 Speaker 1: be hasty to utter a word before God, for God 11 00:00:45,470 --> 00:00:49,639 Speaker 1: is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let 12 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: your words be few, for a dream comes with much business, 13 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,430 Speaker 1: and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow 14 00:00:59,490 --> 00:01:02,950 Speaker 1: a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for 15 00:01:02,990 --> 00:01:06,569 Speaker 1: He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 16 00:01:07,450 --> 00:01:10,050 Speaker 1: It is better that you should not vow than that 17 00:01:10,130 --> 00:01:14,230 Speaker 1: you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth 18 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,780 Speaker 1: lead you into sin, and do not say before the 19 00:01:17,819 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be 20 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 21 00:01:26,090 --> 00:01:29,819 Speaker 1: For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity. 22 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:34,539 Speaker 1: But God is the one you must fear. If you 23 00:01:34,660 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: see in a province the oppression of the poor and 24 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,709 Speaker 1: the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed 25 00:01:41,770 --> 00:01:44,270 Speaker 1: at the matter. For the high official is watched by 26 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:47,590 Speaker 1: a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 27 00:01:48,390 --> 00:01:50,930 Speaker 1: But this is gain for a land in every way, 28 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: a king committed to cultivated fields. He who loves money 29 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,220 Speaker 1: will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves 30 00:02:00,310 --> 00:02:05,890 Speaker 1: wealth with his income. This also is vanity. When goods increase, 31 00:02:06,150 --> 00:02:09,550 Speaker 1: they increase who eat them. And what advantage has their 32 00:02:09,710 --> 00:02:13,989 Speaker 1: owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is 33 00:02:14,070 --> 00:02:17,830 Speaker 1: the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, 34 00:02:18,550 --> 00:02:21,380 Speaker 1: but the full stomach of the rich will not let 35 00:02:21,419 --> 00:02:25,169 Speaker 1: him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have 36 00:02:25,270 --> 00:02:29,429 Speaker 1: seen under the sun. Riches were kept by their owner 37 00:02:29,530 --> 00:02:32,540 Speaker 1: to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a 38 00:02:32,580 --> 00:02:36,620 Speaker 1: bad venture. And he is father of a son, but 39 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: he has nothing in his hand. As he came from 40 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,300 Speaker 1: his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, 41 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: and shall take nothing for his toil that he may 42 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:52,630 Speaker 1: carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil. 43 00:02:52,889 --> 00:02:56,350 Speaker 1: Just as he came, so shall he go. And what 44 00:02:56,410 --> 00:03:00,740 Speaker 1: gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, 45 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:05,900 Speaker 1: all his days he eats in darkness, in much vexation 46 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: and sickness and anger. Behold, what I have seen to 47 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:14,250 Speaker 1: be good and fitting is to eat and drink and 48 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:18,070 Speaker 1: find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils 49 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:20,839 Speaker 1: under the sun the few days of his life that 50 00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:25,410 Speaker 1: God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone 51 00:03:25,570 --> 00:03:28,710 Speaker 1: also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and 52 00:03:28,810 --> 00:03:32,030 Speaker 1: power to enjoy them and to accept his lot and 53 00:03:32,110 --> 00:03:36,590 Speaker 1: rejoice in his toil. This is the gift of God, 54 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:39,740 Speaker 1: for he will not much remember the days of his 55 00:03:39,820 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 56 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,770 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for your word, and 57 00:03:50,810 --> 00:03:52,970 Speaker 1: we thank you for the wisdom that you grant us 58 00:03:53,060 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: through your son, Jesus Christ, whom we have the privilege 59 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,220 Speaker 1: to trust. And as we look at your word, Lord, 60 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: by the power of your Holy Spirit, you grant us 61 00:04:01,780 --> 00:04:05,500 Speaker 1: understanding into it. Lord, we pray that our lives wouldn't 62 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: be spent chasing after vanities. We pray, Lord, that our 63 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,610 Speaker 1: lives wouldn't be spent focusing on the things of this 64 00:04:11,690 --> 00:04:16,140 Speaker 1: world in an unhealthy, unrighteous, and ungodly way. but that 65 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: we would recognize that in Jesus Christ we have all 66 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: that we truly need. And Lord, we pray that throughout 67 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: the course of this day and throughout the course of 68 00:04:25,460 --> 00:04:28,140 Speaker 1: every day that we would honor you and put you first. 69 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,550 Speaker 1: We love you, Lord. We're grateful for the life that 70 00:04:30,570 --> 00:04:32,350 Speaker 1: you've blessed us with. And we commit this day to 71 00:04:32,390 --> 00:04:36,590 Speaker 1: your care and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.