How is our focus on God? (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, Matt 6)

Introduction
- Today we will discuss our focus on God while we are in His house
- Challenge: How do we look at God in worship, prayer, and in our actions?
- We will use God’s Word to amplify what Solomon is writing in Ecclesiastes

1. How is our worship attitude? (V1)
- When we come into God’s house, are we entering in a way that puts Him first?
- Solomon writes to guard your steps (keep thy foot – KJV) … be ready to hear
- When you come to church, are you ready to hear from God?
- Has your heart been prepared to hear from the Holy Spirit and be challenged?
- Do you come expecting to meet with God – to seek to know the resurrection?
-- Have you spent time in the morning preparing your heart for God to work in you?
- Solomon tells us to be careful – God already knows where you are (Expound)
- Don’t offer a false sacrifice – Use woman who entered temple … (Mark 12:44)

2. How is our attitude in prayer? (V2-3)
- When we come before God, Solomon reminds us to be patient, not hasty
- To come before God expecting to meet with Him, silent before the Lord, submissive
-- Two things to be certain of: There is a God, I am not Him
- Matt 6:7-8 tells us to not babble on as fools, not too ramble without purpose
- God already knows our need, and so before Him we should be respectful
- Let us remember that we did nothing to earn a place before Him – Jesus did!
- When we pray; when we spend time before God – we should do so reverently
- V1 tells us to be careful when we come into the church; are we reverent?
- V2-3 shows us to choose our words carefully – to be mindful of who He is

3. How is our life before God? (V4-7)
- When we make a commitment to do something, we need to get it done
- God is anxious to see us deliver on our words, to see us serve His purpose
- V5 is a very important lesson today: Consider the vows of matrimony (convenience …)
- Do we honor those vows as a society? Are we ensuring that God is first?
- God is paying attention to what we are saying; and our word is all we have!
- V6 (KJV) uses the word ‘angel’, (NIV) says temple messenger
-- Rev 2-3 talks about letters to the ‘angels’ of the churches; those are leaders
- Consider how we act towards one another, even towards me, do we promise falsely?
- Do we look for excuses to give when the work is being done?
- All of God’s Word has one theme to it – to work and show ourselves approved (2 Tim)
- We must always consider ‘standing in awe of God’!
-- Psalm 22:23 – ‘You who fear the Lord, praise Him! Revere Him, all descendants …’
-- Psalm 34:9 – ‘Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear him lack nothing’
- God will provide and deliver if we exalt Him; IF we will respond to Him! (Singers)

Conclusion
- Live in constant awe of who God is; it is the only way to fully appreciate Him
- Jesus died so that we could live; we must live before God in a way that lifts Him up
- Are we willing to do that? Are we willing to show how much we ‘fear’ (honor) Him?