Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 "No Quid Pro Quo with God"

·44 min·4 clips

The pastor describes being smitten by a blonde in a library and how that mirrors approaching God.

George Sinclair, lead pastor of Church of the Messiah Ottawa, opens the sermon by noting that most people think they are the best listeners in the room, yet also believe their families or churches would improve if others listened to them more. He introduces Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 as a text that addresses this contradiction, framing the Bible as both a mirror for self-reflection and a window to God. The core command is to guard your steps when approaching God, with two paths: drawing near to listen (implying obedience) or offering the sacrifice of fools. Sinclair explains that listening in this context means obedience, which he contrasts with cultural images like 'obey' t-shirts, instead linking it to intimacy, as illustrated by his story of being smitten by his future wife in a library. He shares another example of humility in listening from his interactions with theologian J.I. Packer. The sermon then delves into verses 2–3, warning against rash words before God because He is in heaven and humans are on earth, emphasizing that words should be few. Sinclair uses a hypothetical scenario of consulting a pancreatic cancer expert to underscore the importance of listening over speaking. In verses 4–7, he discusses vows to God, connecting them to disappointment with God, which he attributes to a quid pro quo mindset where people try to put God in their debt. He recounts an anecdote about a church warden who asked 'what are you going to do for us?' to illustrate manipulative behavior. Sinclair argues that humans are vapor, entirely dependent on God's grace, and cannot earn favor through vows. He concludes by explaining that becoming a Christian involves humble repentance, not making vows, and encourages listeners to approach God with a heart ready to listen and obey, modeled after Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

As heard by us

A measured Ecclesiastes sermon on listening before God with humility and readiness to obey.

Ecclesiastes is framed here as a warning about entering God's presence too full of speech, distraction, or self-importance to listen. George Sinclair, lead pastor of Church of the Messiah, makes that concern concrete through the image of a patient meeting a world expert, only to…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when prayer has started to sound like you doing all the talking, and you want the room to become quiet enough for God to speak first.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Church of the Messiah Ottawa - Sermons