In order to understand the fourth chapter of Ecclesiastes, it is necessary to grasp the context we have provided in our examination of the first three chapters. As we explore this chapter, we once again see a man in despair, confronting the uncertainties (or certainties, as the case may be) and the realities of what this life has to offer. We are shown a glimpse of humanity, revealing that the people of the Bible, while so far removed from us by time, are the same as you and me, felt and experienced the same things we ourselves do today.
I want to take a somewhat different approach to Ecclesiastes 4, in particular by placing you and me within the message of the text. By understanding how this would apply to us, we can gain insight into the contrast between the Lord’s way and the way of the world, as well as the mindset of King Solomon. Let us begin, then, by looking at the first three verses.
We look around us today and we see the plight of the oppressed. In some ways, perhaps we ourselves fall into that category. Our world is filled with despair of all kinds, and for those who seem at the bottom of life’s barrel there is no comforter. When we are going through trials and challenging times, it does indeed seem that our enemies have nothing but power while we have nothing but tears. There may be sympathy, there may be pity, but there is no real help or comfort for us. This only deepens our despair and causes the emptiness to grow.
As I write this, my mind is drawn to the perennial holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey, is at the end of his rope. He feels that death is a better option than life. When confronted with the real truth of that scenario by “guardian angel” Clarence Oddbody (played by Henry Travers), George says he is right, and that it would probably have been better if he’d never been born. I cannot speak for everyone who may read this entry, but those same thoughts have crossed my own mind during some of those moments of deepest despair. Yet ending things is not the solution. Why? Because victory and triumph may be just one more step ahead. If it is not there, we must take another, and another, because with the Lord, victory is there; we just have to endure until we make it there.
Life is harsh, there’s no two ways about it. There does seem to be evil on every hand. Yet it is this very environment which enables the child of God to bring light to an otherwise dark and hopeless land, not only for ourselves, but for those adrift on that sea of desolation.
As we continue with verses 4 through 8, we again see a clarity which often comes in the midst of confusion and doubt. We can’t do anything about our neighbor, what he has or says or does. Simply wishing or coveting what he has is emptiness and a waste of time, yet we have all “been there, done that.” I am a particular “fan” of verse 6. Too often we’re obsessed with having more or having better, but along with that comes, as Solomon puts it, with “toil and grasping for the wind.” Peace is a too-rare commodity, and while we may not have it all, we can be happy and peaceful with what the Lord has given us, for in the end it is better to truly possess little and have peace, than to have it all and find emptiness.
We seriously need our priorities in order because we are actually losing far more than we are gaining when we live only for ourselves. No greater satisfaction exists than to live for others. Our families, our friends, all that matters in life does not benefit from the person who vainly lives only to himself. We have the opportunity to change, to avail ourselves of the observations and life of one who experienced it first-hand. And we should do this.
If you need encouragement, as we all do from time to time, I urge you to commit to your memory Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. We need the companionship of our fellow man, we need friends, but more than that we need a Friend who sticks with us closer than a Brother. Living for ourselves, only for our own advancement or benefit, isolates us from everything good and proper and holy. Where is our comfort? Where is our hope? Who will be there to help us when we fall or must face an enemy? When Jesus is that friend, there is no stopping us. Praise be to our Father in heaven, and to His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord! In Him we find our peace, our warmth, our strength, and our friend.
Finally, what matters is true wisdom. Wisdom is not intelligence or knowledge. Wisdom is knowing what to do with intelligence and knowledge. The greatest impacts in the history of the world were made by those who exercised true wisdom, no matter what their station in life happened to be. There have been noble and villainous kings, and there have been great and anonymous paupers. Yet royalty or commonplace makes no difference in the life of the honorable person. All of us live and die, and all of us can make an impact. That impact is not made through bank accounts or power, but through sincere wisdom and love of God.
When God is the focus, our lives are not in vain. When we go through those moments which seem to have no end (or at least no victorious end), make the choice: refuse to allow Satan to rob you of your victory. You were created for a purpose, and while that purpose might not make headline news, but it is no less important to God’s kingdom. Do not give into the temptation to live for the moment or live for self. Look at the big picture, and how you fit into God’s plan. I assure you that God has a purpose for you, and if you are willing, He is more than able to give you more than “vanity” and “grasping for the wind.” There is a comforter, there is a friend, there is a hope, and it is Jesus.
© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.
I want to take a somewhat different approach to Ecclesiastes 4, in particular by placing you and me within the message of the text. By understanding how this would apply to us, we can gain insight into the contrast between the Lord’s way and the way of the world, as well as the mindset of King Solomon. Let us begin, then, by looking at the first three verses.
We look around us today and we see the plight of the oppressed. In some ways, perhaps we ourselves fall into that category. Our world is filled with despair of all kinds, and for those who seem at the bottom of life’s barrel there is no comforter. When we are going through trials and challenging times, it does indeed seem that our enemies have nothing but power while we have nothing but tears. There may be sympathy, there may be pity, but there is no real help or comfort for us. This only deepens our despair and causes the emptiness to grow.
As I write this, my mind is drawn to the perennial holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart’s character, George Bailey, is at the end of his rope. He feels that death is a better option than life. When confronted with the real truth of that scenario by “guardian angel” Clarence Oddbody (played by Henry Travers), George says he is right, and that it would probably have been better if he’d never been born. I cannot speak for everyone who may read this entry, but those same thoughts have crossed my own mind during some of those moments of deepest despair. Yet ending things is not the solution. Why? Because victory and triumph may be just one more step ahead. If it is not there, we must take another, and another, because with the Lord, victory is there; we just have to endure until we make it there.
Life is harsh, there’s no two ways about it. There does seem to be evil on every hand. Yet it is this very environment which enables the child of God to bring light to an otherwise dark and hopeless land, not only for ourselves, but for those adrift on that sea of desolation.
As we continue with verses 4 through 8, we again see a clarity which often comes in the midst of confusion and doubt. We can’t do anything about our neighbor, what he has or says or does. Simply wishing or coveting what he has is emptiness and a waste of time, yet we have all “been there, done that.” I am a particular “fan” of verse 6. Too often we’re obsessed with having more or having better, but along with that comes, as Solomon puts it, with “toil and grasping for the wind.” Peace is a too-rare commodity, and while we may not have it all, we can be happy and peaceful with what the Lord has given us, for in the end it is better to truly possess little and have peace, than to have it all and find emptiness.
We seriously need our priorities in order because we are actually losing far more than we are gaining when we live only for ourselves. No greater satisfaction exists than to live for others. Our families, our friends, all that matters in life does not benefit from the person who vainly lives only to himself. We have the opportunity to change, to avail ourselves of the observations and life of one who experienced it first-hand. And we should do this.
If you need encouragement, as we all do from time to time, I urge you to commit to your memory Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. We need the companionship of our fellow man, we need friends, but more than that we need a Friend who sticks with us closer than a Brother. Living for ourselves, only for our own advancement or benefit, isolates us from everything good and proper and holy. Where is our comfort? Where is our hope? Who will be there to help us when we fall or must face an enemy? When Jesus is that friend, there is no stopping us. Praise be to our Father in heaven, and to His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ the Lord! In Him we find our peace, our warmth, our strength, and our friend.
Finally, what matters is true wisdom. Wisdom is not intelligence or knowledge. Wisdom is knowing what to do with intelligence and knowledge. The greatest impacts in the history of the world were made by those who exercised true wisdom, no matter what their station in life happened to be. There have been noble and villainous kings, and there have been great and anonymous paupers. Yet royalty or commonplace makes no difference in the life of the honorable person. All of us live and die, and all of us can make an impact. That impact is not made through bank accounts or power, but through sincere wisdom and love of God.
When God is the focus, our lives are not in vain. When we go through those moments which seem to have no end (or at least no victorious end), make the choice: refuse to allow Satan to rob you of your victory. You were created for a purpose, and while that purpose might not make headline news, but it is no less important to God’s kingdom. Do not give into the temptation to live for the moment or live for self. Look at the big picture, and how you fit into God’s plan. I assure you that God has a purpose for you, and if you are willing, He is more than able to give you more than “vanity” and “grasping for the wind.” There is a comforter, there is a friend, there is a hope, and it is Jesus.
© 2007, Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press. All rights reserved. All material printed on this site is protected by the copyright law of the United States. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Chris Keeton and Soulscape Press, obtainable by leaving a comment (with your request) which will be forwarded to Chris Keeton. Altering or removing any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content is not permitted. Any and all portions of material copied from the Soulscape Blog must be properly attributed to Chris Keeton and Soulscape, and cited with original blog web address.
2 comments:
Hi Chris
Great insight into Chapter 4 - with permission I would like to use parts of this for a Staff Prayer meeting at St Therese's Catholic Primary School, Cairns, Australia.
Your name and the URL will be included.
Thanks
Cam
Cam,
Please feel free to use whatever you like. Hope all goes well for you and that the Lord will continue to inspire you through these words.
Regards,
Chris Keeton
Soulscape
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