Ecclesiastes 5:1–6:9

Bringing the sermon home:

What keeps “fools” from realizing that they’re doing evil when they gather for worship is that they think they already know what it means to worship, and, thus, they don’t listen to what is being taught by the songs, prayers, and sermons, or by the spilt blood on the temple altar (and pointed to by the cross and table). We must ensure that our hearts are genuinely engaged in our outward expressions of worship, and that we’re not simply going through the motions.

Also, we must ensure that we’re actually worshipping God and not merely what we think we can get out of God through outward expressions of worship. This is precisely what sets God apart from the false gods invented by the minds of men, and what sets the worship of God apart from religion. Religion seeks to appease false gods in order to get something out of them. True worship is about delighting in God, even when He doesn’t answer our prayers as we desire.

The remainder of the passage turns from examining the worship of God to examining the worship of money, power, and possessions, none of which can provide lasting joy, satisfaction, or rest. May we learn to "accept our lot" by learning to love God above all else.

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Prov 28:9)