The book of Ecclesiastes deals with what life is all about and shows how real and true the Bible is. Solomon, the writer’s main-focus was to encourage his readers in the importance of getting God in to the picture early on in all aspects of life. His lessons and advice read as a big deal because in it we find a man who was very wealthy and wise, yet who described life as a puzzle he couldn’t quite put together despite all his riches and wisdom. If you’ve ever felt you’ve made some huge mistakes with your life consider that here’s a man who having it all would eventually end up splitting his earthly kingdom due to those mistakes!
Face it, what truly is this thing called life all about? Like last Sunday’s NFL football game I was watching, about the time you’re team scored a touchdown, the ref blows his whistle and the entire play is called back because of some tiny infraction. That sort of reminds me of a couple of books Charles Swindoll wrote entitled, “Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back!” or “What if God has Other Plans?” I don’t know about you, however, I’ll admit that quite often I have similar feelings! What’s the lasting benefit of what I am doing anyway? Am I just spinning my wheels, getting nowhere while remaining stuck going nowhere?
“I said to myself, ‘Come now, be merry, enjoy yourself to the full. But I found this, too, was futile. For it is silly to be laughing all the time; what good does it do? So after a lot of thinking I decided to try the road of drink, while still holding steadily to my course of seeking wisdom. Next I changed my course again and followed the path of folly…” (Eccl. 2:1-2a).
God doesn’t mind your enjoyment of legitimate pleasures. He isn’t upset that you like your job, possessions, relationships, or even dinners out, in fact these are gifts He provides. The problem comes when a person looks for meaning in things…because “things” weren’t designed by Him to provide what we think we want.
What then was Solomon’s final conclusion on the matter? “It’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it! Do all you want to; take in everything, but realize that you must account to God for everything you do” (11:9 LB). “Here is my final conclusion; fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the entire duty of man. For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad” (12:13-14).
Today is the tomorrow you were looking for yesterday! As Solomon’s so eloquently observed in words of Ecclesiastes 12:6; “Remember your Creator now…before the silver cord of life snaps, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher it broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern…”
Blessings, Psalm 20:7 Dale & Jeannie