Get serious when speaking to God and let your words be few

Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.  Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.  For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

"Let your words be few."

You might think that the longer your prayers, the better; but that's not the advice of Solomon here.  If you have a long prayer meeting, it should not be made up of very long prayers from individuals, but many different prayers from many different people, making the length of time longer.

When we as individuals or even with when prayer partners spend a lengthy time in prayer, the length of time should not be accounted for because of our long-windedness or verbosity, but because besides offering our prayers, we are sitting in silence or searching the scriptures, notebook in hand, while in the presence of God.

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words." -Matthew 6:7

Jesus often spend extended periods of time in prayer with the Father.  The length of time spent in prayer is not a problem.  Paul told Christians to pray without ceasing.

"For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few."

This scripture is a word for today, to the casual church-goer; who might have a too casual relationship with God.  Let's call him 'casual Carl'.  Casual Carl has forgotten who he is as a Christian.  But more importantly, he has forgotten who God is.  Carl began his Christian life, by leaving his foolish life of sin and began a life of wisdom, walking with God in Christ.

But Carl is acting foolishly in how he is relating to God, because he has forgotten who he is and who God is.  Carl has a casual relationship with God.  Carl talks to God, relates to God casually.  Carl makes commitments then forgets or does not follow through.  Carl makes promises and does not keep them.

Jesus warns us is Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."

And Paul warns Christians in First Corinthians 11:27, that the person who takes communion in an unworthy manner shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  And what did Paul mean by that?  He means that each person needs to have an attitude of utmost seriousness and recognize the deep significance that the participation in the Lord's supper entails.  We are to take communion with a heart of humble thankfulness and repentance.

We have all seen a sign that says "watch your step".  That is what the preacher in Ecclesiastes is saying here.  "Watch your step" with God.  Walking with God is serious business.

"Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God."

There are people like casual Carl, who talk to God, pray to Him; in church and in their lives.  What could be wrong with that?  Why would the word of God written here criticize that?  It even calls that the "sacrifice of fools".  The Bible calls it a "sacrifice of fools" when people like casual Carl worship God.

Why?  Because people like casual Carl are not listening.  They say "Lord, Lord", but they do not obey God.  To listen in the Hebrew has a double meaning.  It means to first pay attention and get it to the best of your ability because you gave the word your undivided attention.  And secondly it means to obey the word.

Casual Carl talks to God, he loves the sound of his own voice.  He says to himself, "ah, I am talking to God; I must be okay".  But casual Carl is like a day dreamer.  He has decided to make up the rules.  A day dreamer is someone not paying attention to what is right in front of him.

The casual Christian who is not taking his walk with God seriously speaks to God with excessive words that lack thought and purpose.  In a "word salad" is how a fool speaks.

"Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few."

If we take our relationship with God seriously, we will listen which means to hear and obey, before we respond.  And when we speak, it will be from a place of being humble, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".  (Proverbs 3:34 and James 4:6.)

All of us should be quick to listen to God and slow to speak to God.  We should be dead sober serious when we make promises to God.

We need to always approach God with humility in how we speak to Him.