THE VANITY OF WEALTH AND HONOR (Part #2) - "There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?"
As we established previously in part #1 of the vanity of wealth and honor, money is not inherently evil but the love of money is. The same argument can be made of contentment, which is the primary focus of Solomon's attention in Ecclesiastes 6. Contentment in many ways is the true measuring stick of our spiritual maturity, for it reveals the perspective with which we look at life and make decisions. For example:
- ETERNITY - Am I content with full assurance that I know where I will spend eternity when I die?
- SALVATION - Am I content with my decision to accept or reject Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior?
- PROVISION - Am I content with my personal finances and material possessions (whether rich or poor)?
- ATTITUDES - Am I thankful to God for His provision or consumed with complaining and grumbling over what I don't have?
- HEALTH - Am I content with the blessings and limitations God has given me health-wise throughout my life (past and present)? Am I willing to accept health-limitations that will come my way in the future, no matter how difficult and challenging?
- MARRIAGE - Am I content with my decision to marry or remain single? Am I content with who I have chosen to spend the rest of my life with in marriage?
- LEGACY - Am I content with my decision to have children and the legacy I am passing down to them based on how Godly or ungodly a parent I have been?
- FORGIVENESS - Am I content to forgive others regardless of the sins committed against me?
- REPENTANCE - Am I content with my decision (or lack thereof) to seek the forgiveness of others for wrongs I have done?
- CONSEQUENCES - Am I content to accept the consequences of my actions (sinful or righteous), no matter the cost?
- TRUTH - Am I content to accept and believe God's Word is absolute and inerrant? Am I content with any semblance of relative truth that has undermined God's Word in my heart?
No matter the issue or circumstance, contentment remains at the core of our happiness. Our hearts long for peace that transcends all understanding, making us vulnerable to idols as well though. An idol is simply anything that takes the place of God in our lives which we worship, serve and pledge our heart's allegiance to. For instance, idolatry can easily be found in various forms of materialism but also in relationships that promise contentment but inevitably deliver disappointment. In many ways, idolatry can be masked under layers of self-protection. A woman who places her emotional security in her husband rather than God will be rocked to the core if he ever breaks his marital covenant. Similarly, a man who finds his identity in the attainment of job status and title will be tempted to compromise his faith and family if he values himself more than those he is responsible to shepherd. Who or what we worship is of grave importance to God. "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:2-3). Therefore, we cannot be lazy in placing faith in created things rather than the Creator Himself.
The apostle Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7). Where we invest the majority of our heart's attention reveals how content we are in placing complete faith and trust in the Lord. Keep in mind, we invest the majority of our "time" either sleeping, working, eating, doing chores, parenting children, etc. But in those functions and situations, who or what has the attention of our heart? For we can perform physical or mental functions all day long, but for whom are we living: self or God? Scripture reminds us, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17). If we are purchased by the blood of Christ and obedient to obey His Word, then every thought we have or action we perform should have divine perspective, righteous intent, and worshipful recognition that the Lord is our sufficiency in all things. Whether that is the case for us as individuals is an issue we must all wrestle with. For our hearts must be captivated with unwavering focus on our Creator, otherwise we are vulnerable to any method Satan chooses to expose our pride and selfishness.
The simple truth is this: "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content" (1 Timothy 6:6-8). When we submit to God's authority and apply His Word in obedience, godliness is produced and contentment overwhelms the heart. But if our attitude and motivation are self-seeking, we undermine the work of the Spirit whose purpose is to sanctify us through our every thought, word and deed. True contentment is bred in hearts fully devoted to Christ, sold out for the Gospel, and willing to endure pain, suffering and persecution for the advancement of God's salvation message. Scripture encourages us, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6). When we trust in the Lord alone as our sufficiency, our faith is not destroyed when the storms of life come. Yes, pain, doubt and fear are close at hand waiting to envelop our time and attention, but the grace and mercy of the Lord is sufficient for us to survive. For when the Lord is our sufficiency, a man or woman who is the victim of adultery can survive because the Lord alone is his/her strength. A parent can endure years of silence from estranged, prodigal children because he/she recognizes that children are a gift from God and ultimately belong to Him for better or worse. Moreover, seasons of illness, personal loss or unemployment are bearable because time is short compared to the infinite blessings of eternity. Keep in mind, Biblical perspective and contentment coexist in the heart of a believer when our focus shifts off our own sufficiency and onto the Lord.
We must pay particular attention that we do not muddy the waters concerning contentment, for as James MacDonald says, "Always be content with what you have; never be content with who you are." What this quote reveals is that sanctification is our primary purpose in life, not the attainment of worldly abundance. A limited view of eternity can easily cause us to be consumed by idols rather than Christ. Jesus taught, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:31-33). When we shift our focus off ourselves and our own well-being and onto the Lord and the application of His will, we are more likely to not panic when the storms of life roll in. Granted, it does not mean we're not tempted to worry, fear or stress, for we are all human and not machines whom God can program and forget about. We have free will. We can choose whether we will react or respond to our plight in life. But we must embrace contentment in good times and bad, understanding that hearts sold out for Christ will be relatively immune to the ebb and flow fluctuation of joys and sorrows we encounter every day of our lives. That is why Paul affirms, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).
If we desire to guard our hearts from false idols, we will seek righteousness at all cost. Solomon conveys in the vanity of wealth and honor that it is good to enjoy the fruits of our labor for that is a gift God gives us, but we're not to be consumed by them. In God's eyes, being consumed by the things of this world undermines His authority and provision. Never were we intended to live for ourselves and find our identity and purpose in life apart from God, but we have become spiritually blind to our blindness in many cases. We have worshiped the created rather than the Creator, and will give an account on the day of judgment for our choices made. That is why Scripture warns, "You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me.' But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing" (Isaiah 47:10-11). "Choose to sin, choose to suffer" is the reality before us, and we are wise to not consume our thoughts with finding contentment apart from Christ. Both the rich and poor are susceptible to worldly contentment in their own way, however we as Christians know that our enemy is real and his desire is to lead us astray. The apostle Paul wrote, "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). However, Paul also affirmed that in Christ we have the power to resist the devil and his schemes. "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Therefore, we can rest confidently in our decision to follow Christ, for true contentment is found in the saving grace God offers to us every day of our lives. The question is: Will we accept His grace and trust His ways, or be led astray by false promises of contentment the world offers to temporarily appease our flesh?
THE VANITY OF WEALTH AND HONOR (Part #1) - "If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart."
One day we will all give an account. Whether upon our death bed or within the hierarchical constructs of order and justice God allows throughout society, the truth that we must answer for who we are and what we have done is inevitable. Solomon begins this passage by reminding us that no matter whether those in place of power are righteous or evil, there is a higher authority that will ensure justice is served at some point. But no sooner does he address the issue of oppression and justice, the issue of wealth takes center stage. Money is a sensitive issue to one degree or another for most people. Our world idolizes wealth in many ways, tempting us to place our identity in material possessions that fade rather than our identity in Christ which is eternal. That is why Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). The idea of a treasure that cannot be measured monetarily is hard for many to wrap their minds around, but that is the beauty of our Christian faith. Our standard is not of this world. We know as Solomon pointedly articulates that from dust we were once formed and to dust we will return. Therefore, what monetary wealth we have accumulated in the time allotted to us by God is of no value whatsoever to our eternal destination. In truth, our wealth is more apt a stumbling block and tempestuous hindrance to our spiritual faith walk. It tempts us to place faith in our materialistic abundance than trust in God to provide for our needs. Again, that is why Jesus concluded his teaching on treasure with the statement: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24).
The more glaring issue as it relates to God and money is to what degree we are enslaved. Debt is obviously our enemy to avoid at all cost (pardon the pun), yet the majority of us are comfortable with being indebted in some form or fashion, whether wise or unwise (i.e. credit cards, car loans, mortgages, etc.) This should compel us to introspectively ask ourselves the following questions though to ensure our financial obligations as Christians are prioritized over discretionary spending:
- Does my monthly income exceed my monthly total of bills?
- Do I maintain a healthy savings account of at least 3x my monthly income?
- Do I provide necessary medical, dental and vision insurance coverage for my immediate family?
- Do I provide life insurance coverage for both myself and my loved ones in the event of death?
- Am I tithing to the local church body for the needs of my faith community?
- Am I seeking opportunities to partner with missionaries and missionary organizations for the advancement of the Gospel throughout the world?
- Am I sharing my abundance with the poor and widowed?
- Am I considering child sponsorship or adoption in order to provide for the basic survival needs of children throughout the world?
- Am I obedient to share whatever abundance I have with anyone who asks for my help?
These questions are simply a starting point to elevate our perspective of wealth from something I work toward for my own selfish gain and pleasure, to a tool of responsibility given by God for me to provide and bless others with. Keep in mind, "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). The responsibility of provision is a serious charge every man must not ignore or halfheartedly apply in his life. God will judge such behavior with swift vengeance. Therefore, we ought not to feel guilty for ensuring the needs of our immediate families are met because it is our responsibility to provide food, shelter, etc., according to the Lord's instruction. Where we tend to get in trouble is when we confuse wants with needs. Things that are truly discretionary become mandatory, and we begin to live our lives with stress, anxiety and clenched fists as we work to attain more wealth to feed our insatiable appetites. Perhaps that is why Jesus encouraged His brethren by saying, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:26-29).
The vanity of wealth and honor is simply being so consumed by riches that it becomes a stronghold around our hearts, restricting the Spirit's conviction which seeks to set us free from our bondage. Because God loves us, He gave us free will to choose whether we will be enslaved by the desires of our flesh or submit and obey His absolute truth and authority. Therefore, we have a choice. We can choose to be controlled by wealth and honor or led by the Spirit, for the mind set on the things of this world lacks spiritual perspective. Consider this parable: "And he (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:16-21). Did Jesus say that money is evil? No. But what Jesus is teaching is that self-preservation at the expense of all others is foolish. The desire for comfort cannot squeeze God out of the equation, for the Lord is the reason why those of us who are blessed with wealth and honor have what we have. It is not because of our personal will power and strength that we have attained prosperity. Only God is the reason why the works of our hands have elicited a harvest of blessing.
In the end, Solomon is correct in his assessment that he who loves money will never be satisfied. Why? Because it is an issue of worship in its purest form. Before Jesus spoke the parable of the rich fool He said, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). What Jesus focused His attention on was the idol that resides in man's heart which looks around and confuses want with need, for the beauty, shine, glitz and glamour of the world becomes the desire our hearts covet. In turn, what we want becomes a must-have need, and our trust shifts from God's provision to what we assume we are accomplishing in our own strength. Therefore, we simply cannot elevate money to the point where it becomes an idol in our hearts. The risk is far too great. We are far better served to apply the wisdom of Scripture which declares, "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Perhaps after we have applied this teaching, we will understand what is truly important and focus the majority of our time and attention toward things that produces spiritual dividends, rather than that which fades away and carries no eternal value whatsoever.
FEAR GOD - "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. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear."
There is great truth to the saying, "Your mouth will get you into trouble!" If we reflect upon the days of our youth, perhaps we can recall our mothers admonishing our behavior with this warning. Do we understand where this truth comes from though? Would we be surprised to know it is based on Scripture? "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble" (Proverbs 21:23). Similarly, many of us have heard it said, "Nothing comes out of the mouth of a drunk that wasn't there already." Again, this quote is based on Scriptural truth. For Jesus warned His followers, "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him" (Mark 7:15). The simple fact is that in many cases the Bible is viewed as merely a historical timeline of Christianity, but not necessarily a culturally-relevant, living and active guide to live out our faith. While the majority of unbelievers mock the audacity that "God's Word" could be written by common and sinful men, we in the church believe that "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore, we are without excuse when it comes to living our lives according to the standard of righteousness outlined in the pages of Scripture, if we claim to be born-again followers of Jesus Christ and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. For we believe, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward" (Psalm 19:7-11).
The main theme of Ecclesiastes 5 echoes powerful truth that we must begin living each day by recognizing that God is our supreme authority and we must fear the wrath of His judgment if we choose to live outside the boundaries of His Word. However, our fear is not meant to weigh us down with guilt and shame when we sin, so as to elicit depression and hopelessness. What Solomon conveys is that the throne of grace which God sits upon can only be approached with reverence, which is healthy fear bathed in respect and esteem for who God is as our Creator. Man is called to listen and obey the Word of the Lord regardless of how he is received or looked upon by others, for God sees what we do not and purposes our lives for His glory. For example, we are reminded that "by faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Hebrews 11:7). Noah's reverent posture compelled him to trust that God's Word was infallible and absolute; and by faith, his legacy lives on because he feared the Lord and obeyed the instruction he was given. Would we be so easy to do likewise though if presented by God with the same marching orders? It is a fair question for us to wrestle with. Because in order to live a life fully devoted to the teachings of Scripture, we must be willing to relinquish our pride and submit to the authority of absolute truth which declares, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13).
All that being said, Solomon focuses the bulk of his attention under the theme of fearing God via the words that come out of our mouth. Our speech must not be hasty, but calculated and discerning. Our tongue must not be untamed where fire can spread rapidly, but controlled and guarded. Our words must not be full of shallow and empty promises, but intent on following through on our commitments to others. We cannot undervalue or misinterpret the severity of what Solomon is addressing. Therefore, our hearts must be postured each day to fear God by allowing His Holy Spirit free reign to control our tongues and protect our mouths from pouring forth foolishness. A simple starting point is waking up each morning and praying to the Lord, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). What this does is incredibly valuable because it shifts our focus off self and onto God. It relinquishes selfish will for the Lord's will and positions us to obey His teachings because it puts Scripture top of mind. That is why spiritual disciplines are so invaluable. The more we bath our minds in the absolute truth of God's Word, the more equipped we are to handle all the trials and opportunities God puts before our path to glorify Him in our behavior. In turn, this communicates to the world around us that we are not conformed to the pattern of this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) through how the Bible teaches us to live as Christians. For our spiritual compass declares, "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:12). "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name" (1 Peter 4:16).
We cannot ignore though how strongly Solomon admonishes foolish behavior that wages war within our flesh, for our natural instinct is to react and not respond with our words. As we learned in our study of James, taming our tongue is one of the most effective ways to guard ourselves from living foolishly. "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!" (James 3:3-5). The key is not to attempt to control our tongue by our own strength which seems counter-intuitive, for how else would we guard our words? But it is by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts that we have the ability to exude self-control. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6). In essence, the Spirit reminds us who we are in Christ and that we are no longer bound by the desires of our flesh. For Scripture reminds us, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Bottom-line, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). No truer words have been written and no wisdom more profound that sums up the choice laid before us. Granted, we can continue to strong-arm our way through life by sheer will power and personal strength, but at some point we will grow tired and weary. Fatigue will overcome us and the consequences of our foolish actions and thinking will have come to fruition. Reality has a way of teaching that lesson. Far too many of us Bible-believing Christians understand the wake of destruction foolish living creates because we have the battle scars to show for it. Our tongues were once left unbridled more often than not, and our words became instruments of wrath rather than righteousness. We understood that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him" (Proverbs 22:15). However, we rejected that truth because the fear of the Lord was not elevated in our hearts to the extent where it trumped the folly we passionately longed for. That is why life perspective can be a powerful tool in the life of a Christ-follower, because it reminds us how far from God we once were and how He saved us by the shed blood of His Son who died in our place. "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23), and we are wise to realize that we have a choice whether we speak with wisdom or foolishness, to fear God or reject His authority. Solomon's admonition is true: God is the one we must fear. For if we do, the trajectory of our lives will lead us unto righteousness by His Word and save us from the consequences of foolish living. "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:7-8).
EVIL UNDER THE SUN - "Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, 'For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?' This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind."
Chapter 4 of Ecclesiastes is a prime example of Solomon's various thoughts as it relates to one central, overriding theme. In this instance, Solomon focuses on the evils of life we experience this side of heaven; tragic events that weigh on our psyche and drive our minds into hopelessness and despair. What is most intriguing from Solomon's perspective is the advantage those who have already died have over those who are currently living, as well as the unborn who have yet to taste the bitterness of human existence. In other words, Solomon's final determination is that the world in which we live is so cruel and bathed in suffering that life is not worth living. Pain is inevitable, oppression exists, truth is relative, jealousy and envy consume our thoughts, and evil runs rampant through the heart of man. Therefore, what hope do we have to compel us to remain steadfast in the face of trial and persecution? Truthfully, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19). But as followers of Christ, we believe heaven exists and our eternal resting place is secure because we have placed our faith in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and that alone is reason enough to endure all the evil under the sun Satan throws our way. "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13).
The temptation we must guard ourselves against is to react sinfully toward all that is going on around us. We cannot clench our fists in unrighteous anger toward one another. Rather, we must open our hearts to the realization that those who claim to be truly "living" apart from Christ are already dead to begin with, shackled by their pride, self-righteous attitudes, and false sense of security. Therefore, we must adhere to Scripture's teaching which declares, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18). Our response in the face of evil is love, just as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, exemplified by His example on the cross and taught us to emulate. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35). No doubt, foolishness is rampant in our culture today, which makes it difficult to convey a message of eternal urgency to those who (as Solomon characterizes) would rather fold their hands and eat their own flesh. But we must be diligent that the Gospel is presented and more importantly lived out by our righteous living, in order that souls may be won for Christ.
Jesus taught, "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light" (Luke 11:33-36). Our eye metaphorically describes the attitude and perspective through which we look at life all around us. Therefore, we must ask ourselves: Are we pessimistic or optimistic? Realists or dreamers? Hopeless or hopeful? For in all sincerity, how we view life will determine whether we react or respond to it. The reality is that the generation in which we live predominately does not share our faith and hope in Christ. They would rather mock us for our beliefs and demand signs and wonders to appease their foolish thinking. That is why "when the crowds were increasing, he (Jesus) began to say, 'This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here'" (Luke 11:29-31). How ironic that Jesus would reference Solomon in order to convey the absolute truth that He alone satisfies man's desire for salvation. In the face of rampant evil, He alone provides the only escape route from bondage and oppression. And He will judge the living and the dead according to His Word, regardless of whether mankind repents or not.
What is interesting to note within Solomon's theme of "evil under the sun" is the emphasis he places on the role and importance of relationships and community, for pity the man who falls and has no one to lend a hand to help him up. The intimacy of personal relationships is paramount to our survival on earth. From the beginning of creation, God saw that being alone was not sufficient for man. "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' ... So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:18, 21-22). Therefore, why would we assume remaining independent and isolated from our faith community is wise? Yes, with community comes times of trial and conflict, but God works through our personal relationships to sanctify our character and countenance. We see life from God's perspective when we exist in community. For instance, we recognize the challenges God has in disciplining us when we struggle to train our children unto righteousness. Moreover, we learn what it means to self-sacrifice through the gift of marriage, just as Christ sacrificed Himself for His bride (the church) that we might live for righteousness. "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17), therefore we are designed to both hold our neighbor accountable and be held accountable to him as well, especially in our community of faith.
Indeed, a threefold cord with God as the central thread binding two followers of Christ together is not easily broken. But if we live apart from community, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought like an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice, we live blind to our own blindness. Our judgment is impaired because of our pride and we no longer see danger from afar, but exist in communion with all the evil under the sun Satan throws our way. What we need is revival. We need fresh perspective. We need salvation that not only secures our eternal resting place, but compels us to love our neighbor and endure suffering for the advancement of the Gospel. For no matter what oppression we experience this side of heaven, the Lord declares, "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish" (Jeremiah 31:25). Our souls are satisfied because the Lord has not merely met our needs, but overflowed the longings of our hearts which yearn for intimacy with our Creator. Therefore, we can sing His praises because He is faithful, He is sovereign, and He is worthy to be praised! Aaron Keyes best captures the beauty of this promise in a song he wrote inspired by God's Word which declares, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:5-7). May we never forget the redemption that is ours in Christ as we live in the world, but not of the world. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
NOTE: For further worship and reflection, click on the following link to listen to "Psalm 62" by Aaron Keyes.
