Superficial religion is a substitute for fear and love of God for the self-justified while living under the sun. This is the theme in the first 7 verses of chapter 5. I need to guard and watch my actions before God (1). I need to think about what I do and say and examine my heart.
A foolish person puts on a shell of religion. Their heart and mind are not in it. They do not know what they are doing. They do not know that shell religion is evil in the eyes of God. They do not listen nor obey God (1).
The tongue can be more powerful than a ship’s rutter. The tongue can be more destructive than a termite behind walls. I should not be in a hurry to speak before God (2). When I pray my words are to be precise and to the point. Jesus said, “Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no. I need to listen to God more than speak to him. Prayerful and grateful meditation is wise.
Dreams are mysterious and descriptive. A starving person will dream of a banquet. A thirsty person will dream of swimming in pools. A person of worry dreams often and their dreams are of endlessly trying to solve something they have little or no control over and also of bliss. Similar is the speech of a fool with many words. Rash words are spoken by fools (3).
