We must be careful when we’re in the presence of God, and our behaviour in His presence must be respectful, Ecclesiastes 5:1 / Isaiah 6:5 / Romans 12:1-2. We must always be careful to listen to what God has to say and then do it, Ecclesiastes 5:1 / 1 Samuel 15:22 / James 1:22-25. The Bible is God’s Word, and we should study to hear what God has to say to us, Acts 17:11.
Fools don’t understand that the way they live their lives is contrary to the way God says we should live our lives, Ecclesiastes 5:1. Even in the religious world, traditions can easily become more important than what God actually requires, Mark 7:1-9.
Beware of anyone who speaks too much, Ecclesiastes 5:2 / James 1:19 / James 1:26 / James 2:1-10. They often end up speaking about things they don’t know anything about, telling lies and making promises they cannot keep, Ecclesiastes 5:2. There’s nothing wrong with having dreams and ambitions, Ecclesiastes 5:3, but we must be willing to work hard to achieve them.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘As dreams are generally the effect of the business in which we have been engaged during the day, so a multitude of words evidence the feeble workings of the foolish heart.’
Whenever anyone made a voluntary vow to God, it was a self-imposed vow that, according to the law, could not be broken, Ecclesiastes 5:4 / Deuteronomy 23:21-23. If anyone didn’t keep that vow, it was a sin, simply because they promised to keep it but didn’t fulfil it, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.
Making vows to God is serious, and they can be helpful for setting our own personal spiritual goals, as long as the result is glorifying God. We must be careful that our mouths don’t lead us into sin. In other words, if we make a vow to God but have no intention of fulfilling that vow, this is sinful, Deuteronomy 23:21-23.
The reference to the ‘messenger’, Ecclesiastes 5:6, is probably a reference to the priest, Leviticus 5:4-5 / Malachi 2:7. The KJV uses the word ‘angel’, which means messenger. And so, when anyone makes a vow to anyone who represents God, they must keep that vow; otherwise, God will become angry with them, Ecclesiastes 5:6.
Causing God to become angry with us is a serious sin because anyone who makes a vow to God and doesn’t fulfil that vow is basically making a mockery out of God, Galatians 6:7 / James 4:4. Solomon says much dreaming and many words are meaningless; therefore, fear God. Ecclesiastes 5:7.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning fearing God.
‘Fear neither the dream nor its interpretation, God will take care of and protect thee. Most certainly, he that fears God need fear nothing else.’
Even in today’s world, there is a lot of corruption by those who choose to oppress the people. This corruption usually begins at the top and filters down to others, Ecclesiastes 5:8. All of them will have to give an account to God for their actions, Romans 14:12.
Everyone is dependent upon farmers and the produce they harvest from the land and it should be in everyone’s interest not to oppress the farmers, Ecclesiastes 5:9. The result of doing so is that everyone will eventually suffer because of it.
Eaton, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The point of these verses seems to be that the fruits of one’s work can also disappear as a result of taxes and unfair oppression by political rulers. A hierarchy of officials is in view. By legal and illegal means, rulers squeeze money out of the populace. Even so, it is better to have government than not have it, Romans 13:1-7. One translation of Ecclesiastes 5:9 is, ‘But an advantage to a land for everyone is a king over cultivated land.’
The more wealth people have, the more they want. Although there is nothing wrong with being wealthy, the problem comes when they are never satisfied and continually want more, Ecclesiastes 5:10 / Luke 12:15 / 1 Timothy 6:9-10.
The whole purpose of being wealthy should be to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves, Acts 20:34, because with much wealth comes much responsibility.
When people are so focused on their wealth, Ecclesiastes 5:11, they aren’t focused on God and they often forget about those around them who have nothing, 1 Timothy 6:6-10 / 1 Timothy 6:17.
Notice also that one other problem with being rich is that they often have to rely on other people to take care of their wealth, and the wealth of those around them, hence they have a lack of sleep, Ecclesiastes 5:12.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘An increase of property always brings an increase of expense, by a multitude of servants; and the owner really possesses no more, and probably enjoys much less, than he did when every day provided its own bread, and could lay up no store for the next. But if he has more enjoyment, his cares are multiplied, and he has no kind of profit. This also is vanity.’
Solomon tells us about those who are only interested in hoarding things for themselves, in order for them to get wealthier. We need to be careful that in doing so, we don’t neglect others in the process, Luke 12:13-21 / Acts 20:34.
Hoarding is a problem for some people; they just keep everything and can’t bear the thought of letting anything go, even though they don’t need it, Ecclesiastes 2:21 / Ecclesiastes 3:16 / Ecclesiastes 4:13.
Hoarders are unfortunate because they often make bad business decisions, and instead of gaining more, they lose it all, and what was left was given to their son, Ecclesiastes 5:13-14.
Hoarding is foolish because it gives the idea that everyone should work for themselves. In this case, the son wouldn’t have any right to his inheritance; he is responsible for his own livelihood.
We are reminded of an important truth, which is that we came into this world with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing, Ecclesiastes 5:15-16. Solomon says all their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction, and anger, Ecclesiastes 5:17.
The point is that anyone who has a lot, should use this to bless others because they can’t take it with them when they die, John 13:17. We all know that God is a giver and if we claim to be like God, we should do likewise, James 1:27.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Again Solomon urged the enjoyment of life, Ecclesiastes 5:18 / Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 / Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 / Ecclesiastes 3:22, but he warned of some obstacles to that enjoyment. Solomon was not advocating hedonism but the simple enjoyment of life day by day, Ecclesiastes 5:18. In other words, he recommended that we take some time to enjoy the beautiful experiences of life as we travel down its path.’
There’s something satisfying about growing your produce in your garden and then eating it, Ecclesiastes 5:18. There’s also a sense of achievement and enjoyment when we work hard to be able to put food on the table, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10. God only promises blessings to those who are willing to take the time to work for others, Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 / John 13:17.