The Sacrifice of Fools

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday, January 9 2024

Today’s Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 5:1 (ESV): “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.”

When it comes to In our quest for God, we always forget that our zeal to reach Him can never match His own zeal to reach us. Understanding this should deliver us from vain motion of worship or religion, which are our attempts to reach God. Meanwhile, in God’s own attempt to reach us, He stopped at nothing—He came in the flesh, in our own very self in Jesus. So, while most of our religious motions are preparations that ought to be made, like Martha’s case, we should never depend on religious platitudes, but on our personal relationship with Jesus.

Let us learn from the wisdom of the wise king, Solomon, who, in his quest for the best he tried all manner of things possible to get satisfaction and fulfillment including religion; but learned quickly that rather than be a cure; religion can be a curse—especially when it amounts to offering what he described as sacrifices of fools before God. This happens when worship is relegated to religious ritual rather than personal encounter with God; when worship is mechanical, out of obligation or routine, and makes no difference in people’s lives; and when people make rash decisions and vain promises before God.

Quote for the Day: “Worship is the highest activity of the church, and it must always be approached with clean hands and pure hearts." Our goal in coming to worship should be to listen before speaking." — Simon Olatunji

Prayer: Dear Lord and Father, I thank You for this timely encouragement. I know that this year will have its challenges, but I am determined to press on following Your will, and trusting in Your strength and power. By Your grace, I will go the distance and never quit — in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

For further inquiry and free spiritual help, visit or write:

The Darling Bishop,

2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144

Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA

+1 (407) 360-8280; (817) 822-8441

[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

Send | Share | Subscribe | Support