The Wisdom Books #3 = Ecclesiastes

The Wisdom Books #3 = Ecclesiastes

The word “Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek word “ekklēsia” which means assembly; it is our word for church. “Ecclesiastes” means “one who calls an assembly” or “debater/speaker in an assembly” ie, a Preacher. It was the Greek word used to translate the Hebrew word “Koheleth”, which means “Gatherer”, but is generally translated as “Teacher” or “Preacher”.

Yes, Solomon wrote the book, but God is the one preaching to us. He wants to impart wisdom to us.

There are two (2) messages in the book:

The first message is that life, in all its endeavors, such as construction projects, learning, and pleasure, because they neither satisfy nor last, are in the eternal scheme of things, a waste of time, a vain pursuit. How much is enough? A little more. Like drinking salt water or taking drugs, they do not satisfy, but rather create a craving for more, and that more still does not satisfy!

The second message is that God has given us the good things of a simple life, like a wife and children and work and food and quietness to enjoy. He wants us to enjoy them; it is not sin to enjoy them, but rather the intention of God that we do enjoy them.

These 2 lines of thought are like 2 fence lines, that do not run parallel, but converge, meeting at a point, which is:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc 12:13-14

The Preacher is telling us life should not be wasted on vain pursuits, but the pleasures which are good gifts from God, should be enjoyed in the legitimate areas of enjoyment that God has prepared for us, remembering that we all die and so be prepared for that, because everything here ends and is therefore vain, even those legitimate pleasures, and we should therefore prepare for the life to come, even as we enjoy the things of this life.

So what are some of the vain things he mentions?

An endless pursuit of knowledge and schooling, etc.

“And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” Ecc 1:13-14

Think of how the schools here in American have led thousands away from God. Did you know that Harvard was started as a School of Divinity to train Puritan/Congregational ministers. It's original motto was ““Veritas” (Truth) for Christo (Christ) and Ecclesiae (the Church),” it's original seal had the words “IN CHRISTI GLORIAM” (To the Glory of Christ).

All of the original Ivy League Schools were the same!

When I was young, in the early 1960s, we started each school day by saying The Lord's Prayer!

I am obviously not against school or learning, nor was Solomon, he is simply warning that there is no end to it; you never know it all; it leads to pride and away from God; beware.

Partying.

“I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.” Ecc 2:1

The ability to experience physical pleasure, and the mental and emotional pleasures which accompany the physical, was created by God! Yet it tends to lead away from God, and not toward him. “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” That is the cry of the world.

“You only go around once in life, go for all the gusto you can get!” Here is a Google search for that phrase; note the comment in bold! The phrase “Go for the gusto” originated in the 1960s and 1970s Schlitz beer advertising campaigns. During this period, Schlitz promoted its beer as a symbol of American excess and indulgence, encouraging consumers to “go for the gusto” and enjoy life to the fullest.

Any and all areas of pleasure can do the same: cloths, personal persona, sex, drugs, music, art, material possessions. The devil uses these each and every day to lead people willingly to hell.

Listen to Richard Baxter's quote: All sin is to please the flesh; the world is the material; the devil the mover.

Construction projects.

“I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:” Ecc 2:4-6

Have you ever seen TV shows like “Million Dollar Listing?” People glory in their wealth, and the unbelievable extravagance of their houses. With all of the human suffering in the world, much of it right around the corner, how can a $10,000,000 or $20,000,000 house be a justified purchase? Do you think these people are really satisfied and happy because their kitchen counters are XYZ Marble? Not in a million years! Alone at night in the dark, in bed, all the emptiness becomes so so clear, and the heart cries, “Where is reality?”.

Solomon tried to find fulfillment in construction projects: better house, pool in the back yard, 3 car garage: The American Dream, but pursuing it leads many to hell.

So why do we want to be like the rich and famous? Why do we envy them?

Read Ps 73!

Accumulation.

“Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.” Ecc 2:18-21

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?” Ecc 5:10-11

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.” Ecc 6:1-2

One of the most mis-quoted verses in the bible is 1Ti 6:10, which says “the love of money is the root of all evil;” it does not say “money is the root of all evil,” but “the LOVE of money.” We accumulate what we love. Yes, God tells us to work hard, to save, to be frugal, but he also warns us of the danger of money and possessions, and particularly the danger their un-toward accumulation poses. It is a proverbial story line, a father saying, “I worked hard for you, so you would have all of these things,” and the kids saying, “We would rather have had you home!” Think of the song “The Cat's in the Cradle” !

Let us cultivate a mindset of giving to others who have less, for as Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” thereby laying up treasure in heaven that moth and rust cannot corrupt.

Do any of the pursuits of this world truly satisfy?

Does fame satisfy? If so, why do so many entertainers commit suicide?

Does conquest, in either in war or business, satisfy? Think of what Alexander the Great said, “I regret that there are no more worlds to conquer?”

Does peer acceptance satisfy? No, it becomes a never ending goal.

Does physical beauty or physique satisfy? No, it becomes a tyrant, demanding to be feed every day.

Solomon tells us of the vanity of all of these things, and then he tells us what we are to learn:

WE ALL DIE!

“I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” Ecc 3:18-20

IN THE END, WE DIE!

So how are we to use the gifts of God in legitimate ways, so they lead us to him in thankfulness, and prepare us for eternity?

“Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?” Ecc 3:22

“Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” Ecc 5:18-20

“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecc 9:7-10

We all crave satisfaction. The devil, by means of the things of the world (Baxter's quote), lies and tells us to follow a certain path, but that path, the Broad Road (Mat 7:13), is crammed with people, and leads to eternal death in hell.

God tells us satisfaction and contentment lie in enjoying what he has given us, and by keeping things in perspective: WE WILL DIE! God is telling us to be content with what he has given us, and enjoy it, by using it, not hording it.

Here the 10th Commandment comes with power: “Covet not … ; be content with what God has given you!”

In Proverbs, God by way of Solomon, told us to work diligently, be wise and frugal with what we get (there is much food in the tillage of the poor), and save it. Business and investment are not wrong, in fact the Proverbs 31 woman is an entrepreneur, who is given full rein by her husband to be one, and commended for doing it. God is not telling us to be strive for poverty!

Here in the Book of Ecclesiastes God tells us to enjoy the things he has given us: A spouse, children, a job, our possessions, and to not be deceived by them.

As far as I know, Linds Redding was not a Christian, but this article he wrote as he was dying is to the point: lindsredding.com/2012/03/11/a-overdue-lesson-in-perspective/

And the book, “The Mirage of Life,” is excellent!

https://archive.org/details/expositionofbook00bridrich

8 December 2024