In the Book of Acts there is a story of a couple who outwardly appeared to be sincere worshippers of God but secretly planned to deceive both Him and the other believers. It resulted in tragedy!
We read that on the Day of Pentecost Peter preached to the crowds gathered and Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
So, an amazing response to the Good News of Jesus and the church was born!
We read later that They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (2:42-45)
This included Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 [who] sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (4:36-37)
Sadly, next up, maybe feeling that they did not want to be outdone by Joseph, was Ananias and Sapphira. We read that they also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. (5:1-2)
It seems that they suggested that the gift given was the whole price received for the land, but Peter discerned the deception. He said: “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (5:3-4)
What followed was shocking. They both dropped dead! Acts then tells us that Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (5:11) But only a few verses later we read that obviously this did not hinder the church growing as more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (5:14)
Galatians tells us, Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (6:7-8)
Ananias and Saphira would not have read Galatians yet, but certainly they, as Jews, should have been aware of the principle. In fact, they would have read Ecclesiastes, and the same truth was clearly written there in chapter 5 as follows:
5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
3 A dream comes when there are many cares,
and many words mark the speech of a fool.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Obviously, Qoheleth understands that the worship of God, as wonderful and as important as it can be, is also a serious business and is required to be performed wholeheartedly and with sincerity.
C Wright explains: “So Qoheleth’s warning means that just going to the place of worship (just walking in the gate of the temple courts or the door of a church) is not enough in itself. It is no substitute for living in accordance with God’s ways. If you are going to plant your literal feet in the place where God is worshiped, you’d better make sure that your metaphorical feet have been walking in the ways that God has commanded.” (# 60)
Verse 2 puts things in perspective. It says God is in heaven and you are on earth,so let your words be few.
“Even a simply stated truth like that shows us that Qoheleth is an orthodox believer. He shares the Old Testament Israelite understanding of God and humanity. And it challenges him (and us) to humility… Considering the seriousness of Qoheleth’s view of worship in these verses, then, it does seem that he has an anchor of faith in the midst of the tossing of his ship in the stormy sea of meaninglessness and all the enigmas of life. He knows that God is there and that God is to be worshiped with all due sincerity and truth. God is to be loved and feared, not treated lightly. This is a very important perspective for any believer to hold on to even when our experience of life in this world seems baffling and unfair.” (# 60)
And so, Qoheleth concludes this section with those very important words:
So, [reverently] fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He…] alone is God. (5:7 AMPC)
Jesus said:Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)
May God enable us to be those who sincerely worship him in Spirit and truth in all our activities in life. Amen.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. 