"The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
After all of the questions, turmoil, and trials, a conclusion is reached.
Doesn't that seem rather obvious? Doesn't Scripture outline for us in other ways that this is the duty of man, to fear God?
This conclusion has power, comes from conviction. Only after the author had tried everything else is he confident enough to say yes, this is the purpose of man, now go and do so.
Do not be afraid to ask questions and wrestle with the answers. The Scripture has been around much longer than you have, and will remain after you have gone to join your Maker. So why would you be concerned that anything you throw at it, it won't be able to handle?
Search your heart, discern your fears, and discover your doubts. Don't just leave it at that though. Then you must embark upon a journey similar to that of the author of Ecclesiastes so that you also may declare the whole duty of man.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Money, money, money...
Working as a waitress for two years created in me an odd fascination for handling cash. My alternative career, naturally, was to become a bank teller so I could "play" with cash all day long. Well, needless to say it is not as exciting as I had previously anticipated. The reason being, working at a bank involves lots of handing out of cash whereas as a waitress I was having cash handed to me. Cash I could walk out of work at the end of my shift with it in my pocket. That makes a big difference.
Although I am sure not everyone has quite as extreme a fascination with cash as myself, there is a societal obsession with having money in any shape. Even if you don't have money in the bank, it is socially acceptable to at least look like you have it. Expensive cars, designer clothes, fancy restaurants, and ritzy vacations are all things we are raised to fantasize about. Because these things become our objectives, money begins to be our focus because you must have one to get to the other.
So what is wrong with that?
According to Ecclesiastes, a lot!
Money....
- Is unsatisfying
- Brings troubles
- Is often enjoyed by individuals other than the guy who worked for it
- Is fleeting
So why are we so obsessed with it? In 1st Timothy, the love of money is called the root of all kinds of evil. Not all evil, mind you, just all kinds of it. In other words, don't hate it, just be careful with it.
As a business major I deal with profit vs. loss a lot. So much, I can understand how it can easily slip into an obsession among CEOs and business owners and financial agents. There is a lot to be said for bringing in a profit. It meas that during that financial period you were doing your job and doing it well. Keeping all of the moving parts of the company running smoothly and continuing to answer questions of "How can we do this better?" then finding the solution, implementing it and moving to the next problem.
What's my point?
Obviously money can be used for great good and having a lot of it does not make you evil. My point then, I suppose, is don't love money. Love the ends the money brings. This places all of the responsibility of avoiding the "evils of money" on your shoulders. You are the one who decides how to spend every penny that passes through your fingers or bank account. What are you using it for? Why do you love it? If the problem is the outcome (selfishness, neglected households, cheating on financial statements) be careful how much you blame the object you used to get there.
Although I am sure not everyone has quite as extreme a fascination with cash as myself, there is a societal obsession with having money in any shape. Even if you don't have money in the bank, it is socially acceptable to at least look like you have it. Expensive cars, designer clothes, fancy restaurants, and ritzy vacations are all things we are raised to fantasize about. Because these things become our objectives, money begins to be our focus because you must have one to get to the other.
So what is wrong with that?
According to Ecclesiastes, a lot!
Money....
- Is unsatisfying
- Brings troubles
- Is often enjoyed by individuals other than the guy who worked for it
- Is fleeting
So why are we so obsessed with it? In 1st Timothy, the love of money is called the root of all kinds of evil. Not all evil, mind you, just all kinds of it. In other words, don't hate it, just be careful with it.
As a business major I deal with profit vs. loss a lot. So much, I can understand how it can easily slip into an obsession among CEOs and business owners and financial agents. There is a lot to be said for bringing in a profit. It meas that during that financial period you were doing your job and doing it well. Keeping all of the moving parts of the company running smoothly and continuing to answer questions of "How can we do this better?" then finding the solution, implementing it and moving to the next problem.
What's my point?
Obviously money can be used for great good and having a lot of it does not make you evil. My point then, I suppose, is don't love money. Love the ends the money brings. This places all of the responsibility of avoiding the "evils of money" on your shoulders. You are the one who decides how to spend every penny that passes through your fingers or bank account. What are you using it for? Why do you love it? If the problem is the outcome (selfishness, neglected households, cheating on financial statements) be careful how much you blame the object you used to get there.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Are You Weary?
Weariness. I am sure you are familiar with the feeling. At least, I most certainly am.
Ecclesiastes says, "All things are full of weariness" (1:8). I have been doing some thinking about what that really means. What does it mean for ALL things to be full of weariness?
Although not sure of an answer, I can feel it. Sometimes I am weary in my body, after a long day of activities or running around at work. Sometimes I am weary in my soul. This is typically brought on by academic stress or emotional fatigue. I enjoy life, but there are those moments where you just feel so...weary. Endless piles of things to accomplish and feelings of being misunderstood will definitely get me to that place.
From time to time, you can feel it in the air. Weariness. Have you ever walked through a college campus in the middle of finals week? Now that, if any, is a sure fire way to feel weariness around you.
But what am I supposed to do with that weariness?
I believe an answer may be found in quietness.
"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of a toil and a striving after wind." (4:6)
In quietness, the Lord is able to send refreshment and peace to your soul. Think about the weariness you are most familiar with. What is the cause of it? My bet would be that 99% of all weariness comes from either a lack of peace, rest, or both. So when we force ourselves to be quiet, we are creating a space for rest in order to gain peace and dispel weariness.
I wonder, am I EVER quiet? I rest because I must. Do I ever seek these things for spiritual regeneration and growth? What about when I'm weary? What is my response then?
Furthermore, drawing near to the Lord can only happen in quietness and near to His presence we are blessed with wisdom, according to Ecclesiastes. The author says, "to draw near to listen is better than to offer sacrifice to fools..." (5:1) What an incredible return on your investment! If you sincerely seek out quietness, you can avoid weariness, gain peace through rest as well as wisdom when drawing near to the Lord's presence.
That sounds a whole lot better than being weary.
Ecclesiastes says, "All things are full of weariness" (1:8). I have been doing some thinking about what that really means. What does it mean for ALL things to be full of weariness?
Although not sure of an answer, I can feel it. Sometimes I am weary in my body, after a long day of activities or running around at work. Sometimes I am weary in my soul. This is typically brought on by academic stress or emotional fatigue. I enjoy life, but there are those moments where you just feel so...weary. Endless piles of things to accomplish and feelings of being misunderstood will definitely get me to that place.
From time to time, you can feel it in the air. Weariness. Have you ever walked through a college campus in the middle of finals week? Now that, if any, is a sure fire way to feel weariness around you.
But what am I supposed to do with that weariness?
I believe an answer may be found in quietness.
"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of a toil and a striving after wind." (4:6)
In quietness, the Lord is able to send refreshment and peace to your soul. Think about the weariness you are most familiar with. What is the cause of it? My bet would be that 99% of all weariness comes from either a lack of peace, rest, or both. So when we force ourselves to be quiet, we are creating a space for rest in order to gain peace and dispel weariness.
I wonder, am I EVER quiet? I rest because I must. Do I ever seek these things for spiritual regeneration and growth? What about when I'm weary? What is my response then?
Furthermore, drawing near to the Lord can only happen in quietness and near to His presence we are blessed with wisdom, according to Ecclesiastes. The author says, "to draw near to listen is better than to offer sacrifice to fools..." (5:1) What an incredible return on your investment! If you sincerely seek out quietness, you can avoid weariness, gain peace through rest as well as wisdom when drawing near to the Lord's presence.
That sounds a whole lot better than being weary.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Dealing With Trouble
It seems that one of the most frequent complaints that humanity has against God sounds something like, "If there was a God and he really was love, why all of this pain and suffering?" Unfortunately, when asked that question most believers don't have an answer to it. At least, I know I never do. I mumble out some awkward response like, "well, because something good will come of it." Which is true, but not what the inquirer wants to hear.
This is a key theme of Ecclesiastes: Why all these toils and troubles? The "preacher" wrestles with these questions over and over in different aspects of life. Why does the rich man not enjoy his wealth? Why are the righteous punished right along with the wicked? etc. One of the most beautiful illustrations for the toil of life I found in my research on Ecclesiastes in a book called IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?: ANSWERS FROM ECCLESIASTES by Ray Stedman. Ray presented his readers with a poem on the forming of disciples which is why he believes there are reason for troubles in this world.
THE SHAPING OF A DISCIPLE
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man and sill a man;
When God wants to mold a man
To play for Him the noblest part,
When He years with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Then watch God's methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects;
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Making shapes and forms which only
God Himself can understand,
Even wile His man is crying,
Lifting a beseeching hand...
Yet God bends but never breaks
When man's good He undertakes;
When He uses whom He chooses,
And with ever purpose fuses
Man to act, and act to man,
As it was when He began;
When God tries His splendor out,
Man will know what He's about."
-Stone
What a beautiful illustration of God's love for his children even in the midst of what they consider to be persecution. Next time I am struggling, I would like to stop and ask of the Lord what He has for me to learn instead of griping about my problems.
This is a key theme of Ecclesiastes: Why all these toils and troubles? The "preacher" wrestles with these questions over and over in different aspects of life. Why does the rich man not enjoy his wealth? Why are the righteous punished right along with the wicked? etc. One of the most beautiful illustrations for the toil of life I found in my research on Ecclesiastes in a book called IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?: ANSWERS FROM ECCLESIASTES by Ray Stedman. Ray presented his readers with a poem on the forming of disciples which is why he believes there are reason for troubles in this world.
THE SHAPING OF A DISCIPLE
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man and sill a man;
When God wants to mold a man
To play for Him the noblest part,
When He years with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Then watch God's methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects;
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Making shapes and forms which only
God Himself can understand,
Even wile His man is crying,
Lifting a beseeching hand...
Yet God bends but never breaks
When man's good He undertakes;
When He uses whom He chooses,
And with ever purpose fuses
Man to act, and act to man,
As it was when He began;
When God tries His splendor out,
Man will know what He's about."
-Stone
What a beautiful illustration of God's love for his children even in the midst of what they consider to be persecution. Next time I am struggling, I would like to stop and ask of the Lord what He has for me to learn instead of griping about my problems.
The Search for Satisfaction
Money.
Education.
Love.
Happiness.
These are just a few of the long list of things which humanity is constantly seeking after to be satisfied. The author of Ecclesiastes calls all of these things "vanity and a striving after wind." This gives me as the reader such a sense of futility. No matter how hard you work, how much money you make, how much you are loved by those around you or what level of degree you have achieved, satisfaction is not guaranteed.
Don't be discouraged.
It is an intimidating idea, that we do not have ulitmate control over our happiness but the author of Ecclesiastes is at least able to offer some advice from his own experiences. Here are a few:
Let your words be few (5:2)
Be not overly wicked or a fool. (7:17)
Be not overly righteous or too wise. (7:16)
Enjoy life with the life whom you love. (9:9)
Do not take to heart everything people say. (7:21)
Spend time outside. (11:7)
Little pieces of wisdom left for us to gather from his journey. Although we do not know the course of our life, although we are not in control of the things around us, God is the ultimate provider. It is on Him we must lean while fearing him. For "the end of the matter; all has been heard" and He is all that matters.
So if you are tempted to despair, on the edge of giving up and frustrated with failure in your search for satisfaction here is my advice:
Read Ecclesiastes. Take to heart the questions the author asks, feel the desperation and hear of the struggle. And there amongst the questions and the frustration you may discover, at the end of the text that indeed there is hope and God is indeed good.
Education.
Love.
Happiness.
These are just a few of the long list of things which humanity is constantly seeking after to be satisfied. The author of Ecclesiastes calls all of these things "vanity and a striving after wind." This gives me as the reader such a sense of futility. No matter how hard you work, how much money you make, how much you are loved by those around you or what level of degree you have achieved, satisfaction is not guaranteed.
Don't be discouraged.
It is an intimidating idea, that we do not have ulitmate control over our happiness but the author of Ecclesiastes is at least able to offer some advice from his own experiences. Here are a few:
Let your words be few (5:2)
Be not overly wicked or a fool. (7:17)
Be not overly righteous or too wise. (7:16)
Enjoy life with the life whom you love. (9:9)
Do not take to heart everything people say. (7:21)
Spend time outside. (11:7)
Little pieces of wisdom left for us to gather from his journey. Although we do not know the course of our life, although we are not in control of the things around us, God is the ultimate provider. It is on Him we must lean while fearing him. For "the end of the matter; all has been heard" and He is all that matters.
So if you are tempted to despair, on the edge of giving up and frustrated with failure in your search for satisfaction here is my advice:
Read Ecclesiastes. Take to heart the questions the author asks, feel the desperation and hear of the struggle. And there amongst the questions and the frustration you may discover, at the end of the text that indeed there is hope and God is indeed good.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Beauty of Imagery
Ecclesiastes is full of images, parallels and situations which become vivid and real in the readers' mind while reading. For example:
"Dead flies make the perfumer's
ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor." - Ecclesiastes 10:1
The images in Ecclesiastes make the book relatable, they draw you in and touch your heart. The message of the book could be communicated in much fewer words but would have a significantly smaller impact. The author of Ecclesiastes is able to draw from the landscape around him to paint "word pictures" in order to engage his readers. Just like T.S. Elliot used the lazy London streets as the landscape in his poems to engage his readers and Johnny Cash uses the sights and sounds of the railroad in his songs. Wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes but the most memorable forms are the ones you can relate to.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Why Ecclesiastes?
Since January 1st, 2010 my life has been a battle. A battle against myself and my will verses God's. I avoided it, ignored it, ran from it, opposed it, fought it, despised it, etc. but now the year is drawing to an end and God has won. He's won my heart for I have bruised and battled it into willing submission to his plan for my life. His will is better than mine, so I should stop making plans.
But I'm a planner, what if I come up with something really good?
The author of Ecclesiastes asks a lot of the same questions I've asked my whole life. Where is there fulfillment in the world? How far can success in my chosen career get me? What's the point? If I work hard enough, can I get what I want to be happy? My wish in this project is to journey with the author of Ecclesiastes and come to the same conclusion. To go from Chapter 1 verse three, "What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?" to the conclusion in Chapter 12 verse 13, " The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
This is my project. To take my questions, my plans, my ideas and my will and to give them to God and know that the whole duty of my life is to fear God and keep his commands. May you be blessed by the divine inspiration of His Word and may He use me to touch your life in some small way.
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