The Sacrifice of Fools: Guard Your Tongue

 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. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it" (Eccl 5:1-5).


The preacher asked for testimonies. The usual suspect raised his/her hand...and proceeded to ramble on about his/her striving prayer, dutiful petitions, unwavering faith. Thus the miraculous answer.

Someone volunteered to pray. Throughout the entire monologue we learned of the longsuffering of the petitioner.

A blogger types her influential exposé. For as much of the essay as you were able to read, she rambled on about herself--the quintessential example of whatever.

We've all heard the sacrifice of fools. And universally it repulses us. And across the board, each of us denies ever having offered this sacrifice.

It is better that we go near to listen rather than babble in our own name, for even a fool is considered wise when she/he holds his tongue (Prov. 17:28).

Two questions I ask of my readers: 1. How have you witnessed the sacrifice of fools?                   
2. How is wisdom found in silence?