The Sacrifice of Fools (Ecc. 5; Ph. 4:8)

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, books full of wisdom, offer a challenge to me every single time I read them. I read and find my own foolishness, and if I am in a judgmental mindset, which I admit I fight (less now than I used to), I find others’ foolishness, too. Often it is easier to see someone else’s foolishness than my own, and there’s the rub. Seeing my own foolishness and taking action against it instead of seeing it and being content to leave it be or seeing it and having a hopeless attitude. 

God did not give me wisdom in his word for me to squander.

Lately I have been thinking about two things that are foolishness in my life: talking too much and dwelling unduly on the days of my life. (Yup, you guessed it. I’ve been reading in Ecclesiastes).

I DO like to talk, but at the same time, my alter ego is very quiet. I can ride three hours rattling off words or ride three hours speaking absolutely none. My flesh wants to talk when it wants to talk, i.e., when I am not reading or alone or asleep or when there’s a football game on that my husband (or other familial male) wants to watch but I am not actually invested in watching. I get bored, and then I talk waaayyyyy too much according to my husband. Truth.

Alternately, I tend to be very quiet when I am around groups of people. My social awkwardness just seems to bloom whether I am in a room with people I’ve known a long time or total strangers. I am not sure what to say and really don’t want to feed my flesh and gossip about anyone, so barring teaching Bible study, which is like teaching a classroom full of aforementioned teenagers, I tend to get quiet and mostly listen, speaking if spoken to but mostly watching.  

Ecclesiastes 5 speaks of the “sacrifice of fools” who don’t even recognize that they are doing evil by being speaking rashly or offering vows without thinking through the consequences. It is verses 2-3 that get me every time: “For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore, let your words be few, for a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words” (NKJV CSB). I cannot help but think about what I (think) say, who I say it to, when I choose to speak, and how I say anything. I cannot help but weigh my “busyness” to see if it is foolish or wise.

Facebook also comes to mind. People who claim to be walking in Christ are often very public with many rash words, and it pains me for them and for the cause of Christ. To have the world around you, the one that knows you well (or not), the ones you care about see the foolishness of rashly spoken (typed) words is embarrassing. Sometimes, it is a one-time incident that just explodes, but most of the time there is a pattern of foolishness, and a few verses after the one mentioned above, the wisdom writer says that God “has no pleasure in fools” (v. 4). I want God to take pleasure in what I do.

At the same time, I am confronted with how much time I choose to spend any given day with social media. Is it wise to steep myself in other people’s drama, in their foolish words, especially if I am struggling to be wise with my own and avoid being judgmental? Do I really have to know/need to know everything going on around me? Philippians 4:8 tells me, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (NASB). 

The writer of Ecclesiastes concludes the first section of chapter 5 with this: “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin.” There will be no excuses when we stand before God, no saying, “She made me say/post this!” It will be our own actions and words that we will give an account for one day. There will be no denying truth then even if we are in denial right now. But God through Christ has paid my sin debt, and should I take that lightly? 

The other foolishness (well, another of probably a very long list . . .) that I mentioned before is dwelling UNDULY on the days of my life instead of staying busy, being KEPT busy by God with the joy of my heart. The Amplified version puts it thus: “For he will not often consider the [troubled] days of his life, because God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him]” (v. 20). 

When I am considering foolishness (whether of my own past or others’ present that is before me), when I have too many words to speak and find myself eager to do so instead of listening and responding wisely, I need to remember not to worry over those but instead confess them before the Father who sees even my blackened heart and rely on the blood of Christ shed for me and dwell on His true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent work done for me, dwell on His Word left behind to guide me through His Spirit while I am feebly walking out my time in this life. As an alien.

I get that I am awkward. That probably won’t ever change in this life. But what can change is how I choose to spend my moments and how much my mouth flaps and what I dwell upon in the future. If you see me having a moment or liking every single post I come across and know I am spending too much time “steeping” on social media, please help me. Ask me how much time I am spending in the Word. Be brave. Tell me. Remind me. Redirect me lovingly to the joy of my heart. It is full and there is much to be busy about in this life rather than foolishness.