QT 21/01/2025 Tue. Ecclesiastes 5. The Surprising Vanity of Excessive Words and Wealth. 言多必失及财富的惊人虚荣。
QT 21/01/2025 Tue. Ecclesiastes 5. The Surprising Vanity of Excessive Words and Wealth.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/eccl5
A person good with words might be described as eloquent. A person who had amassed wealth might be described as having arrived. But Qoheleth brought to our attention the vanity of these even.
Ecclesiastes 5:1–3 [1] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. [2] 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. [3] For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. (ESV)
Firstly, words of encouragement do build up others. But excessive words might become insincere flattery. Words of love and commitment uttered by a boyfriend might excite, but the failure to follow up with concrete marriage preparation might reveal the improper use of words to delay decision rather than expressing love.
Similarly, not acting on commitment towards God might reveal we do not actually fear God. Qoheleth saw the practice of religion during his time and was perhaps warning against the vanity of excessive religious words uttered to God. God is not impressed nor pleased by insincere ritualistic actions nor words that are equivalent to frivolous "wind".
REFLECTION: Would you take God seriously and act on what you have committed on your commitment forms to Him? Do you even recall your five commitments?
Secondly, Qoheleth pointed readers to the vanity and foolishness of greed outside the temple—in the province.
Ecclesiastes 5:8–12 [8] If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. [9] But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. [10] He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. [11] When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? [12] Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. (ESV)
It was no surprise that corruption occurred at the bottom level of tax collection and at each of the higher official ranks during Qoheleth's time. Each rung collected a certain percentage of the tax, such that the commoner were frequently shouldering a big burden of the costs of corruption. The surprise was that the unceasing pursuit of wealth did not result in a meaningful or satisfying life for the wealth accumulator—he could not even rest or sleep well.
REFLECTION: Be content with What God Provides. Are we aware of the benefits of wealth but also the significant risks of being ruled by it if we are not careful in our daily thoughts and walk? Do not fall into the trap of the vanity of excessive words or wealth.
QT 21/01/2025 星期二. 传道书 5. 言多必失及财富的惊人虚荣
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/ecc/5
一个善于言辞的人可以被形容为雄辩家。一个积累了财富的人可能会被形容为 “到达了” （成功）。但是，教师(科希勒)让我们注意到这些甚至是虚无的。
传道书 5:1–3 你到 神的殿，脚步要谨慎；近前聆听，胜于愚昧人献祭，因为他们不知道所作的是恶的。（本节在《马索拉抄本》为4:17）2 在 神面前不可冒失开口，心急发言，因为 神在天上，你在地上，所以你的言语要寡少。（本节在《马索拉抄本》为5:1）3 挂虑多就令人作梦，言语多就显出愚昧。
首先，鼓励的话语确实能造就他人。但过多的言语可能会成为不真诚的奉承。男朋友所说的爱和承诺可能会让人激动，但如果没有后续的具体婚姻准备，就可能会暴露出言语的不当使用，即拖延决定，而不是表达爱意。
同样，对上帝的承诺没有付诸行动，也可能表明我们实际上并不敬畏上帝。教师(科希勒)看到了他所处时代的宗教实践，也许他是在警告人们不要对上帝说过多的"宗教的口头禅"，因为上帝不会被虚伪的仪式和等同于轻浮的 “风 ”的话语所打动或取悦。
反思：你会认真对待神，并按照你在委身表上对神的承诺行事吗？你还记得你的五项委身吗？
其次，教师(科希勒)向读者指出了圣殿之外--省里--贪婪的虚荣和愚昧。
传道书 5:8-12 如果你在一省之中，看到穷人遭受欺压，公正和公义被夺去，也不必因此惊讶，因为高位者之上有较高的照应，在他们之上还有更高的。 9 各人都从土地得着利益，就是君王也得到田地的供应。10 贪爱银子的，不因有银子满足；贪爱财富的，也不因得利知足。这也是虚空。11 财物增加，吃用的人也增加，物主除了眼看以外，还有什么益处呢？ 12 劳力的人无论吃多吃少，都睡得甜；财主的丰足，却不容他安睡。
在教师(科希勒)时代，征税的最底层和每一个较高的等级上出现腐败并不奇怪。每个等级的官员都收取一定比例的税款，因此平民经常要承担官员腐败大部分的重担。令人惊讶的是，对财富的不断追求并没有给财富积累者带来有意义或令人满意的生活--他甚至无法好好的休息或入睡。
反思：满足于上帝的赐予。我们是否意识到财富的好处，但同时也意识到，如果我们在日常的思想和行为中不谨慎，就有可能被财富辖制？ 不要掉进虚荣心的陷阱，不要被过多的言语或财富所迷惑。
