“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.” – Ecclesiastes 5:1 (NIV)
“Hold up your skirt so you don’t trip,” my mother would always say as I moved around in my dance ministry attire. The skirts are long and flowing, but I never really saw the reason to do so. As it would go, I always obeyed her. In my obedience, I sometimes wondered whether I could manage to walk without holding up my skirt. Inherently, however, I always knew better than to test that theory.
Then one day, I walked up a peristyle staircase, still holding my skirt in hand, as a young lady rushed up the treads with a seemingly fruitless rush for such a monolithic structure. Her skirt was bunched up in her clutched hands, causing wrinkles to form on the smooth cloth. She didn’t get too far in her haste, as she ran out of breath quickly. As she tried to catch her breath, she bunched up more cloth, and eventually, due to her unnecessary pace and careless grasp, she fell back to the first tread. That was the moment I realised my mother was teaching me to guard my steps.
In our main Scripture, the writer warns against offering the “…sacrifice of fools…” and emphasises persons who speak without pausing to listen. Often, when we enter the house of God, it is quite easy to lose sight of the Holy One in the room and focus on something more personal. A new ministry we’re interested in, a leader we’d like to befriend, and many others. Know, however, that frantic religious actions that bypass an obedient heart are dangerous.
How can you serve God while ignoring Him? Well, to answer that, what is your heart set on? Is it truly listening?
This also applies to other aspects of our lives. Our work, academia, and even our families. We tend to lose ourselves in self-declared priorities; we forget why we were there in the first place. Just like that young lady who rushed up the impossibly large staircase with unguarded steps and the reels of too much wrinkled fabric, eventually holding the unnecessary fabric that caused her downfall, guard your steps.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. I ask that You come into my heart and help me to guard my steps. Help me to listen rather than get wrapped up in worldly silk and distractions. Help me, Lord. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Read: Proverbs 4:26; Ephesians 5:15-16
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 106:1-15; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Isaiah 14; Isaiah 15; Isaiah 16