Is it all Meaningless?
My Pilgrimage - Ecclesiastes Chapter 1
"Grace and Peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
(Roman 1:7)
Is it all Meaningless?
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1
Preface Comments
Tradition says that King Solomon is the author of the book of Ecclesiastes. But many scholars believe that it was written at a later date. The New International Version of the Holy Bible addresses the author as "Teacher". (1:1) This term comes from the Hebrew word Koheleth. The "Teacher" studies the meaning of life. The message is aimed at those who seek to find a meaning outside of God and without acknowledging His goodness. The author explores a grim reality for those who pursue a life outside of God's control. He addresses some of life's most sensitive questions:
"Meaningless!
- Meaningless!
Everything is meaningless"
Are You Shocked?
Where can we find satisfaction?Life is meaningless outside of knowing God. This should be an invitation for you to know Him. May the Lord use my study of Ecclesiastes as an encouragement to follow Him in this unique and perplexing adventure we call life.
Is It All Meaningless?
"…'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the Teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.' What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again."
(Ecclesiastes 1:2-7)Unless you believe in God and have been saved by the Blood of Jesus, everything is meaningless. I believe that everything has a meaning and a purpose. God created it; God created everything. If you are not a Child of God, then everything is meaningless, because the meaning is hidden from you. Only through God's goodness will we be given to understand the meaning.
Is Wisdom Meaningless?
"I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!"
(Verse 13)Earthly wisdom is "a heavy burden", a curse. The teacher discovers, after he had devoted himself to study and exploration, that everything in meaningless. This is true unless we accept God's interpretation and glorify our Creator. Everything was created for us.
"Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." (Verses 17-18)
Knowledge is knowing something.
Foolishness is lacking judgment.
Madness is unrestrained reasoning.
Wisdom is not amassing knowledge.
God gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge.
Some people try to disprove the teacher's theory through wisdom, but cannot find the answer. Others accept his theory and become totally depressed.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, depending which bible translation you read, it may be called meaningless, vanity (empty) or useless, take a moment and think about the following questions.
Dear God,
help us to resist meaningless living.
Help us to pursue your purpose.
In Matthew 7:8 we are promised that all who seek shall find.
LORD teach us
that there is meaning in life
by getting to know You better each day.
Let us
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is He who
made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His
courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the LORD is good
and His love
endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
Amen!
Ecclesiastes Chapter 2
Pleasures are Meaningless!
As a child or young adult we struggle through various schools. After that we find ourselves in an earthly struggle to build an existence, a position of importance; to acquire possessions; and to be respected for our accomplishments. We come to the point where we can buy all the pleasures that our heart desires, a big house, a fancy car, great entertainment, exotic vacations, let us not forget membership in a large and very impressive church and a new spouse. Why is it that the divorce rate has skyrocketed in today's prosperous society? Why have our churches become bigger in status and greater in their social appeal? We seek greater pleasures.
"My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor." (Verse 10)
Remember the parable of the Rich Fool? "You fool! This very night your life may be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Luke 12:13-21)
Unless we have a personal
relationship with God,
have accepted by faith His goodness
and trust that our sins have been washed away
by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
our life is meaningless.
"When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
(Verse 11)"Seek His Kingdom and all these things will be given to you."
Toil is Meaningless!
Have you seen the work-a-holic? All our lives we work to build an estate, something to pass along, something by which we can be remembered. We work on earthly treasures and neglect our spiritual growth.
"What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. All this is meaningless." (Verses 22-23)
"To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand over to the one who pleases God." (Verse 26)
Are we Work-A-Holics?
or
Are we Ambassadors for God?
Keep
me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.
You are my LORD!
You have assigned me my portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure.
My boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places;
I have a delightful inheritance.
I
will not be shaken.
My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices.
You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
With eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Amen.
(Taken from Psalm 16)
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
"There is A Time for Everything …
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, …
a time to weep and a time to laugh, …
a time to search and a time to give up, …
a time to be silent and a time to speak, …"
(Verses 1-7)
I believe the time to speak is now. I believe we have listened long enough to those who speak with great wisdom about a society where we place individuality before God.
Did we create God
"God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."
(Verse 17)Become a living testimony to God's glory.
"I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:1-2)We have different gifts
given to us by
God in His great wisdom.
Let us use our gifts and bring meaning to our life.
Chase away meaninglessness
and God will
give you peace and joy.
Speak out and testify on God's great love
and His goodness.
God sent His one and only Son into this world to die for our sins.
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ assured us salvation and made us Children of God, heirs of His Kingdom, and gave us a Heavenly Father who will come for us by His sole goodness.
May God give us opportunities, strength and confidence to witness on His behalf.
Show us the way we should go and teach us to do His will. He is our God
and will be so for ever and ever.
Amen!
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4
"I saw the tears of the
oppressed;
power was on the side of their oppressors.
The dead, who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
Better than both is he who has not
yet been,
who has not seen the evil
that is done under the
sun."
We can see it every night on the news from around the world. Fighting and killing, merciless killings in Africa and the Middle-East and in many other places.
I often hear the question: "How can God allow this to happen?" Most of the time, it is so traumatic that I will turn away. I must remind myself not to question God. God is in control. Surely God knows about these killings. How many times have we asked the same question, how can God let this happen to me?
God may give us to understand His actions after the fact. Knowing the reason and the future would put us on an equal level with God. We must be patient, have faith and trust God.
"The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress." (Job 37:23)
"If one falls down,his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!"
In my research on this part of the scripture, I came across same very interesting questions.
Dear
LORD,
I thank You for giving me Christian brothers and
sisters as my friends.
They have helped me when I was down.
They have guided me in my spiritual quest.
They have given a new meaning to my life.
LORD, may I now be their friend as they journey through life.
There is no greater pleasure than being a friend to someone in need.
LORD, I thank You for giving me this precious opportunity to be a friend.
Amen!
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5&6
Let us stand in awe of God.
"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."
(Verse 1)Let's get busy for Jesus was the title of our chaplain's sermon this past Sunday. (Matthew 3:1-12) Soon we will celebrate Christmas, the Birth of Jesus Christ, who came to wash away our sins with His blood. His love for us was so great that He died for us. Let us get busy and love someone dear who is lonely and needs companionship. Give that special person your time and caring love. Show him how Jesus loves him and cares for him.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." (Verse 4-5)
At the beginning of a new year it is the custom to make a vow, such as lose weight, stop smoking, get a better education, etc. If you make a vow to God, plan to keep it at whatever personal sacrifice or do not make this vow. Do not say at a later date: "My vow was a mistake, I cannot do it."
Riches are Meaningless.
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."
(Verse 10)"The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep." (Verse 12)
How is your stock portfolio? (Do you spend a lot of time watching daily stock changes?)
How is your heavenly stock? (Accept God's Grace and rest in Peace!)
"Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." (Verse 15)
Whatever gift God has given you by His grace, be thankful and enjoy it during the few days of life God has given you.
The LORD lifted me out of the pit.
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
I put my trust in the LORD.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders You have done.
The things You planned for us
no one can recount to You;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. I said,
"Here I am, I have come.
I desire to do Your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart."
May all who seek You rejoice
and be glad in You; may those
who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
Amen!
Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
A Good Name."A good name is better than fine perfume…"
(Verse 1)A good name is precious. It will be respected and honored. A good name is based on integrity and honesty. A good name by itself has no meaning, but if the name represents a person, then it has great significance. On the other hand, the most precious perfume will fade away and will leave no trace in a short time. Fine perfume may carry a high price while a good name lacks marketability. A good name is not for sale. When Jesus was tempted by the devil as he offered, "All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus replied: "Away from me Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only'." (Matthew 4:9-10)
To God belongs wisdom.
"Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such question."
(Verse 10)As we mature in age, we look back on our life with joy and possibly some grief. Looking toward the future leads us to make comparisons and speculations. How many times have you heard; "It was better in the past"? I believe this thinking comes from fear, the fear of not knowing what the future will bring. Now, if we put our trust and faith in God, we see a completely different situation. (1) God is in control and has a plan for everything. (2) By His grace and the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ we have become Children of God. No father will bring harm to his children. The love of our Heavenly Father is endless.
In the book of Job we can read this powerful testimony: "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His." (Job 12:13)
Let us take to heart what James writes:
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth."
"Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil."
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:13-17)
The Righteous Man and Sin.
"There is not a righteous man or woman on earth who does what is right and never sins."
(Verse 20)This verse should not be a consolation to make sin acceptable by saying "everybody does it". The bible tells us on many occasions that man has inherited sin and only by God's Grace and the Blood of Jesus Christ has been washed free of his sins. As all children drift into troubled waters, we do the same. We cannot help but follow unrighteous ways and sin along the road. Let us rejoice that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. He sent His only Son into this world to wash away our sins. We must learn from our unrighteous and sinful ways and must pray for guidance.
"When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members."
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
"Thanks
be to God --
through
Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Amen!
(Romans
7:21-25)
Life through the Spirit.
"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
"God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
(Romans 8:1-4)Have
mercy on me, O GOD,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash
away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Cleanse me …, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Create
in me a pure heart, O GOD,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
O LORD, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
(Taken from Psalm 51)
Ecclesiastes Chapter 8
Death is in God's hands. He can take you through the most horrifying situations and preserve your life. Many soldiers or sailors have asked, "Why did I survive when all my buddies were killed?" God is saying, "I want to use your life." This verse clearly states that death is in God's hands. No one has the authority to choose the day of his death.
"Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God." (Verse 12)
Jesus said to His disciples, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) God is able to take care of His own. God has first claim and takes precedence over the threats from mankind. In His eyes, what happens to our bodies is insignificant. God will keep those who walk with Him, regardless of what happens to their bodies.
"I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it." (Verse 17)
As we enter a new year, so-called experts - wise men - claim to know what the future will bring. They claim to have all the knowledge and experience to predict the future. Very soon we find out that weather patterns have changed, human diseases have stricken entire nations, international conflicts have erupted, and catastrophic disasters have occurred. What does it tell us? God is in control! We live by His goodness.
Now let us take a positive look. Take a quiet walk through your neighborhood and see the beauty of nature. Who controls the birds and insects, make trees grow and new plants emerge from seeds? We re-study the processes of nature as we find new answers.
As I search for answers to life's problems, I realize to a greater extent that God is in control and that we must and can trust in His judgment to do what is best for us. We are His children and no father will harm his beloved children. "His Love Endures Forever." (Psalm 136)
Let us Pray:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
"Why?" is the Wrong Question to Ask.
Sermon (Extract) by Pastor Tom Rietveld
Palm Springs Baptist Church
"So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him." (Verse 1)
Let us paraphrase what the Teacher is saying, "... the events of your life are not the final measuring stick of God's approval or disapproval." Prosperity is not always a sign that God is particularly happy with you –because even the wicked prosper at times.
"All share a common destiny – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good man, so with the sinner; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead." (Verses 2-3)
The common destiny of every human being is that we are all eventually going to die. No matter how good you are, not matter how bad you are. No matter what your social position is, no matter what your lifestyle is. No matter your religious affiliation or practice is, you are going to die.
"Anyone who is among the living has hope – even a live dog is better off than a dead lion! For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. (Verses 4-6)
When bad things happen, or you're confronted by one of life's mysteries, the question to ask is not, "Why are these things happening?", rather, you need to ask, "What bearing do these things have on the purpose of my life?" Which means, that if you're going to determine how something affects the purpose of your life, then you must know the purpose that your life has. Or to ask it more bluntly, why do you exist?
When you understand why you exist, the circumstances that come into your life can be viewed in the context of that calling. Brothers and Sisters, I urge every one of you, to pray for wisdom to that important question, "Why do I exist?" Remember, when you're dead, it's too late to answer that question.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." (Verse 10)
Stay focused on making your life count for something. When you do this, the mysteries of life won't trouble you. The mysteries and the "why" questions will bounce off of you, because you're so focused on enjoying your life by making it count for something significant.
The more relationships we intentionally develop the greater is the opportunity to lead someone to Jesus Christ by observing our calmness, peace, contentment and assurance when the difficult times of life come our way. When they see our trust that our loving Heavenly Father knows what He's doing, they will want that same assurance for their lives, as well. So remember, when the "why" questions start to appear in your life ... ask, "What bearing do these things have on the purpose of my life?"
Graciously, Pastor Tom Rietveld allowed me to share his sermon with you in this forum. My appreciation and thanks go to him. May God bless him. You can read the complete sermon on
Have You Forsaken Your First Love?
During a visit to the Hawaiian Islands we attended Sunday church service on Waikiki Beach. The Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy was founded thirty years ago. Pastor Alex McAngus delivers his message each Sunday morning on the beach of Waikiki in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort Hotel. He leads an independent evangelistic ministry. Pastor McAngus is locally known as "Alex". He believes to go where the people are, to meet them at that point in their lives and proclaim the Gospel to them.Sunday service consists of special Hawaiian music, dances and testimony of faith followed by an inspiring sermon that Alex delivers to those who attend his service and to those who sun-bathe nearby in their bikinis.
On this Sunday Alex shared with us Revelation 2:4-5
"You have forsaken your
first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent and do the things you did at first."
How does this apply to us today?
How does this apply to me, - Wulf?
What was our First Love?
What is our Gift from God?
Have we moved from serving the Lord in a humble fashion to serving the Lord in a capacity that elevates us and makes us feel important? Are we still doing what God wants us to do?
Dear Father GOD: Lead us; Show us the way
(Ps 23); Be our guide. We do not know the way; when we drift from the path that You have selected for us, take our hands and return us to Your path.This leads us right back to Ecclesiastes Chapter 9:
"Everything is in God's hands."
(Verse 1)Thank You Lord for sending Your Son Jesus to give us eternal life. I know love awaits me. I am grateful for Your goodness and Your promise of eternal life in Your Kingdom. Amen.
"Anyone who is among the living has hope."
(Verse 4)There is great hope for the living to accept God's grace, love and eternal salvation. While we are living, we can do this. Once we die, this option will be taken from us. Oh gracious God, let the living hear this message and accept Your Gift. It is free and given for the asking.
"The living know that they will die ... never again will they have part in anything that happens under the sun."
(Verses 4-5)Accepting that we all will die brings great urgency to commit our life to Jesus. God has given each of us special gifts to use while we are here on earth. Once we die, we cannot use these gifts and God cannot use us to His glorification. Don't waste the precious gifts God has selected for you to use while you are here.
"Do it with all your might."
(Verse 10)Don't be afraid to speak out for Jesus.
"No man or woman knows when his or her hour comes."
(Verse 12)Be prepared and look toward the joyful moment when you have the opportunity to enter God's Kingdom.
Dear GOD,
"… I am always with You;
You hold me
by my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me into glory.
Whom have I in Heaven but You?
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but GOD is the strength of my heart."
Amen.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 10
Unrequited Love!
As I continue to read the book of Ecclesiastes, my mind stays focused on the Teacher's word "meaningless". Everything is meaningless unless it comes from God. All our doings are meaningless unless the Holy Spirit guides us and we accept God's goodness. Let us thank our Heavenly Father each day for His Love and Blessings. May He direct our lives in such a way that we bring glory to His name.
"As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor."
(Verse 1)What does a fly have to do with perfume? I found in John Calvin's Bible Commentary the following explanation:
The more delicate the perfume, the more easily spoiled is the ointment. Common oil is not so liable to injury. So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. "Flies" answer to "a little folly" (sin), being small. "Ointment" answers to "reputation".
A small fly can bring great discomfort until we chase it away.
"A little folly"
brings great discomfort until we pray for forgiveness and accept God's
mercy.
"Calmness can lay great errors to rest."
(Verse 4)Always remember this, if it does not come from God, it is meaningless. Now if it comes from God, it brings Love and Patience. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
"Whoever digs a pit may fall into it."
(Verse 8)The answer lays in Psalm 7:17 "… give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." We have an Awesome God.
Praise God
From Whom All Blessings Flow.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 11
It Does Matter!
"Speak My word to them
whether
they listen or not."
(Ezekiel 2:7)
"Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again."
(Eccl verse 1)The Teacher suggests to sow without any hope of a harvest, do good even to those where your benefactions seem a throwaway. The theme is "Doing Good to All". The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatians:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal verse 6:9)
"Do not be deceived: ... The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Gal verse 6:7-8)
"Brothers and Sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. ... Carry each other's burdens. " (Gal verse 6:1-2)
The Teacher's final recommendation is: "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." (Eccl verse 6)
A Challenge to the Young
and Wisdom to their Parents.
"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the way of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment".
(Eccl verse 9)George Bernard Shaw, who won the 1925 Nobel prize for literature, has said, "Youth is such a wonderful thing it is a shame to waste it on young people." This may be the viewpoint of tired old men, envious of the abundant energy and abandon of youth. Youth is a very wonderful time of life. The Prophet Joel proclaimed that "young men will see visions". (Joel 2:28)
Let us not discourage our youth from enjoying the abundance of physical vitality that they have. They should take full advantage of their capacity for imagination and adventure. Use the opportunities that come to them and be glad of it. They are to make their choices.
I say to the youth of today: Remember that it is possible for you to go wrong. You need more than yourself. Life is too big for you to handle on your own. At the end, each of us in the human family must give an account of ourselves.
As the years pass along, our views and priorities change. Wisdom allows us to focus on values that have eternal values. I close with the last verse of this chapter, which can be so much strength to those in need.
"Banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless."
(Eccl verse 10)
Dear LORD,
You are
my fortress and my God.You are
the rock in whom I take refuge.
I bow down in worship and kneel before You, LORD my Maker; You are my
God.
We are the people of Your pasture.
Let us sing with joy to You, O LORD;
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation.
I come before You with Thanksgiving.
My LORD, You are a Great God.
Amen!
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
The Reason for Living.
My dear beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we have spent extra time sharing the book of Ecclesiastes. I had never envisioned that it would take so long. Neither had I foreseen that this part of the scripture would bring me so much understanding and appreciation for God's wisdom.
I had prayed to our Lord that He may use my study of Ecclesiastes as an encouragement to follow Him closer in this unique and perplexing adventure called life. I thank God for answering my prayer and leading me toward greater peace and love.
Let us take a moment and look back on what we have
shared.
Chapter 1 - We were shocked by the Teacher's statement
"Meaningless! Meaningless!
Everything is meaningless".
This is true unless we believe in God and have been saved by the
Blood of Jesus. If you are not a Child of God, then
everything is meaningless.
Chapter 2 - "Pleasures
are Meaningless." "Toil is meaningless."
To the man who pleases God, God gives wisdom, knowledge and
happiness. (Eccl 2:26)
Chapter 3 - "There
is a time for everything." I believe the time to
speak of God is now. We should be a living testimony to God's
glory.
Chapter 4 - "God is in control." We must be patient, have faith and trust God.
Chapters 5 & 6 -
"Let us get busy for Jesus." Whatever gift
God has given us by His grace, be thankful and enjoy it during the few
days of life God has given us.
Chapter 7 - "A Good Name" is based on integrity and honesty. It is not for sale.
"The Righteous Man and
Sin." There is no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus, who washed away all our iniquity and cleansed us
from all our sin.
Chapter 8 - "No
man has power over the wind to contain it." God
controls the birds and insects, makes trees grow and new plants emerge
from seeds.
Chapter 9 - "Why
do I exist?" Ask yourself: What bearing does this
action have on the purpose of my life? Am I still doing what God
wants me to do?
Chapter 10 - "Unrequited
Love!" Calmness can lay great errors to
rest. God's goodness brings love and patience by His
grace.
Chapter 11 - "It Does Matter!" Speak God's Word to them whether they listen or not.
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His
Commandments,
for this is the whole of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hipen thing whether it is good or evil."
Meaningless! Meaningless!
Without having discovered the
reason for living
everything is Meaningless.
What a waste to live your
life
and never discover why you are here!
These are the attributes of a whole man; being healed of ancient evil, emotionally sound, pure and perfect.
Fear God, does not mean to be scared, it means to have FAITH in His existence; to have EXPERIENCED His loving grace; to stand in AWE of our God and Heavenly Father; and to RESOLVE obedience to Him. That is what fearing God means. That is the secret to life; that is the secret of the wholeness of man.
Dear GOD,
We cannot
hide from You.
You know everything that goes on.
You know every thought of our heart
and every
word of our mouth.
You know our motives, deceptions
and
loveliness.
On judgment day, everything will come out in the open at
last.
All the illusions by which we seek
to
convince ourselves
that things are not the way the Bible says they are,
will be stripped away and we will see ourselves as You see
us.
There will be no single voice to challenge the righteousness of your
judgment.
Dear God, Heavenly Father, Lord Almighty help us
"To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly in Your Name."
Amen!
God Bless You my friends Wulf
Scriptures were taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® Copyright©
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