When Entering the House of God – Giving and Offering

This sermon continues a series on Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 by King Solomon, focusing specifically on the theme of giving when entering the house of God. The pastor observes that in the first four chapters of Ecclesiastes, Solomon uses first-person language to record his personal experiences, but in chapter 5 he shifts to the second person ten times to directly instruct readers about their attitude when coming before God. Three areas require careful attention: the mind and heart, speech, and vows.

Regarding giving, the sermon affirms that all believers must bring an offering when entering God's house, as this expresses the awareness that God is the owner of everything one possesses. The Old Testament prescribed a tithe as belonging to God (Leviticus 27:30, 32), and no one was to appear before Him empty-handed. More important than the amount, however, is the attitude: offerings must be given cheerfully and generously, not reluctantly or boastfully (2 Corinthians 9:5-7; Matthew 6:2-3). The example of the poor widow giving two small coins (Mark 12:41-44) and the Macedonian churches giving sacrificially amid hardship (2 Corinthians 8:1-4) are cited as concrete illustrations.

The sermon emphasizes two conditions before bringing an offering. First, the giver must examine themselves and acknowledge their sin, rather than acting foolishly like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14 who considered himself righteous and despised others. King David in Psalm 51 serves as a model: he could only bring an offering pleasing to God after confessing his sin with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:16-17). Second, the giver must be reconciled with fellow believers beforehand (Matthew 5:23-24), because the work of God's house cannot be sanctified when the congregation is marked by discord and unforgiveness.

The pastor also warns that an unforgiving spirit is itself a scheme of Satan. The name Satan means adversary and accuser — he accuses believers before God day and night (Revelation 12:10; Zechariah 3:1-3). Paul instructed the Corinthian church to forgive the repentant member so that Satan would not gain an advantage over them (2 Corinthians 2:6-11). When believers are quick to condemn and refuse to forgive one another, they are carrying out the devil's agenda and undermining the church's witness to the world.

The sermon concludes with a call to keep one's vows to God and to people, based on Ecclesiastes 5. Vows represent commitment and faith; failing to fulfill them angers God and ruins one's own work. The story of Gina Welch's book is used to illustrate that even unbelievers long for genuine love and true fellowship in the church — a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic Christian community and a challenge to believers to embody what they profess.