Caution

When was the last time you were left speechless by something bigger than yourself? Maybe it was standing at the edge of the ocean, hearing the waves thunder with unstoppable rhythm. Maybe it was watching lightning split the sky in the middle of a storm. In those moments, we realize just how small we are—and just how powerful creation really is. Solomon points us to a deeper reality in Ecclesiastes 5: God’s holiness deserves that same reverent awe, only magnified beyond measure.

Ecclesiastes 5 opens with a call to “guard your steps when you go to the house of God.” Worship isn’t casual, and it’s never to be approached lightly. To “guard your steps” means to come thoughtfully, humbly, and prepared to listen. Too often, we treat worship like another item on the weekly calendar, rushing in with our minds full of everything but God. Solomon reminds us that God’s presence is holy ground, demanding hearts ready to listen, not lips eager to perform.

He continues by warning us against careless words: “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Reverence means recognizing who God is and who we are not. Prayer isn’t about filling the silence with requests and demands—it’s about aligning ourselves with His will. Jesus echoed this truth when He warned against “empty phrases” in prayer (Matthew 6:7). Silence, humility, and attentiveness often honor God more than our hurried speech.

Solomon also takes aim at vows and promises made before the Lord. In times of crisis, it’s tempting to strike bargains with God: “Lord, if You get me through this, I promise I’ll…” But Solomon calls that foolishness. Better not to make a vow at all than to make one and fail to keep it. God isn’t impressed with our desperate promises. He delights in sincerity, truthfulness, and integrity. Jesus reinforced this by teaching, “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no” (Matthew 5:37). Reverence shows itself in honesty before God.

Then comes the blunt conclusion: “For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear” (Ecclesiastes 5:7). Empty words, big promises, and lofty dreams—all of it is meaningless apart from a heart that fears God. And here’s where we must pause. Fearing God doesn’t mean living in terror of Him. Instead, it means living in awe, reverence, and submission to His holiness. It’s knowing He is in heaven, we are on earth, and everything in our lives belongs to Him.

The irony is that this reverent fear doesn’t rob us of joy—it secures it. Later in the chapter, Solomon reminds us that even the ability to enjoy the good things in life—work, food, possessions—is a gift from God (Ecclesiastes 5:19). When we see God rightly, we stop chasing the wind of worldly pursuits and instead learn contentment in His provision. Joy isn’t found in accumulating more; it’s found in receiving everything as a gift from His hand with a grateful heart.

This balance of reverence and joy is key. If we focus only on fear, we might shrink away from God as though He were unapproachable. If we focus only on joy, we risk becoming casual and careless in His presence. But Scripture shows us that true worship holds both together: reverent awe of His holiness and grateful joy in His blessings. Like Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12–13, we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling,” yet we do so knowing it is God Himself who works in us, giving both the desire and the ability to do His will.

Think about how this changes everyday life. Prayer becomes less about handing God a list of requests and more about listening for His wisdom. Worship becomes less about getting an emotional experience and more about humbly offering ourselves to Him. Even work and daily routines become less about striving for more and more, and more about finding contentment in what God has given. Reverent fear reshapes every part of life.

So here’s the question for us: are we living with a reverent fear of God? Do we guard our steps, keep our words few, and fulfill what we promise? Or have we slipped into careless worship and empty routines? Ecclesiastes 5 presses us to take God seriously—not to impress Him with our actions, but to stand in awe of His holiness. That’s where true fulfillment is found.

The bottom line is this: life apart from God is vanity, a chasing after the wind. But life lived in reverent fear of Him is full of joy, peace, and meaning. Stand in awe of the holy God. Listen before you speak. Keep your word. Fear Him and rejoice in His gifts. When you do, you’ll find that life isn’t empty after all—it’s rich with the presence of the God who rules heaven and earth.