5 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t
make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God.
After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your
words be few.
3 Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. 5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
I remember the day well. I could smell the meaty sauce she was stirring as I entered through the garage, and before I even saw her face, I was eagerly telling Mom what I wanted, and therefore, what I was going to do that evening with my friends. I concluded my monologue with, "So I need twenty bucks."
She reminded me that I had not even greeted her yet, to which I'm sure I said a very non-heartfelt "hi," and then she let me know that we would discuss it. In my teenage narcissism, I began to raise my voice in annoyance and pride to let Mom know that I sure was going to do what I wanted to do. She quickly and firmly reminded me to "Watch your tone of voice, Molly." As I should have.
She is the one in control of me. At that time, she was in control of my schedule. She has much more authority than I did as a mere sixteen-year-old. And I should never have approached her that way, especially the part about not even saying "hi" first before I so confidently rattled off what I wanted and what I was going to do.
And that's what Solomon is saying here. When you approach God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Don't go in listing all the things you want and telling Him all the things you are going to do. Instead, listen. And learn. He is holy, invisible, exalted, and supreme. I am just a person among billions that live on this earth and can't even get my cat to obey me.
And then we when we do finally speak, we need to watch our words. We shouldn't make promises to Him that we can't keep, and we shouldn't come at Him pointing our fingers. He is God. I am not.
Does that mean that we can't be honest with Him? Absolutely not. When my mom died, I can remember a conversation I had with God...well, more like at God, complete with mental finger-pointing. And yes, He can absolutely handle it, and I think He wants to hear how we're really feeling. But if I find that whenever I approach Him, I do so with a completed agenda and never allow time to listen for His voice and ask Him if I'm anywhere near where He wants me, then I probably need to, as they say, "check myself before I wreck myself."
Sometimes I still act like that teenager. Sometimes I come to the One who loves me and demand what I want without ever considering that He might have a different plan for me. I spout off all that I am going to do, and consequently, what I need Him to do for me to ensure that plan, without taking into account that He is more concerned about my eternal well-being than my spur-of-the-moment plans for some fun.
As I approach God this week, I want to listen more and talk less.
Molly Monroe
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