Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

Over the years I have noticed people of a certain age or certain experience, those perhaps in a certain field, are ready and eager to lend advice to those who have yet to go through those things. Sometimes the advice is unsolicited, perhaps even unwelcome. But what I’ve found is that if we listen to what people are telling us, especially when it comes from someone who has lived the Christian life, we will learn a lot.

As a pastor, I have benefited greatly from the guidance, wisdom and advice of my grandfather, who was a pastor himself for many years. There have been times I have gone to him with a specific question, concern or problem and asked for his thoughts. At other times he has said something to the effect of, “Now if it was me . . .” or “You need to . . .” There are moments I haven’t solicited the advice, that I haven’t wanted to listen, or haven’t liked what I heard. But I have always benefited from the advice.

Solomon is responsible for giving us most of the book of Proverbs, and here in Ecclesiastes chapter five, we see that father or grandfather figure, pulling us aside, saying, “Child, this is what I’ve learned, and if you’re smart, this is what you’ll do. I made mistakes in these areas. Don’t make them for yourself.” Then Solomon gives us some sound advice when it comes to living the righteous Christian life.

Verse one instructs us to approach the Lord (in our daily living as well as corporate worship) with a right heart, know the true reason you’re there, and be more ready to “listen and do,” or hear what He is saying to you and apply it, rather than just going through the motions or following man’s leading. Why? Because that will lead us nowhere we want to go, and we will regret it. Solomon had gone through the motions, had fulfilled many of the rituals, but had also in later life given into the flesh and going against the Lord. This cost him spiritually, and he wanted those who would read his words to know that he really did know what he was talking about.

Verses two through five offer some of the best advice to be found in the Old Testament (or anywhere in the Bible) for the modern Church and Christian. We often open our mouths before we get our brains in gear or our hearts in place. We attempt to make “deals” with God, trading our time or our deeds if He’ll do something for us, usually getting us out of some jam we’ve gotten ourselves into. A lot of people are what we would describe as “all mouth,” and we can see that. But those who have a vision, who have a dream, who know there’s a purpose for their life and they want to fulfill it, we see it not in their words but their actions. I’ve always said, “I don’t care what you have to tell me. What can you show me?” God doesn’t want words, He wants actions, and it’s better if we would not say anything at all if we’re going to say it then break our word. He never breaks His Word with us. God listens, God remembers, and when we make our pledge to Him, we need to be good to our word.

We break our word because of one reason: vanity. Vanity is more than pride; it is selfishness, looking out only for ourselves, for the moment, what is advantageous for us right now. This gets us nowhere. God, and for that matter the world, is looking for people who are dependable. Can anyone trust you? Is your word your bond? These are serious questions for serious times.

Verses 8-17 need to be taken as a block, and while I could spend a great deal of time breaking down each verse (and am slightly tempted to do so!) I just want to hit a couple of the high points. Worldly man could be described as that mass of people who work for more and more, and are less content the more they acquire. We want more to possess, to brag about, but it’s all vanity. Those people who are content with what the Lord has given them are complete and happy, able to sleep at night. But those whose only desire is to have more than everyone else (whether it’s material possessions, power, spirituality, etc) are obsessed with obtaining more no matter what the cost.

Solomon says, “I’ve seen this,” in essence admitting that he had lived it himself. He had nothing when he came into the world, and no matter how much he acquired, how much time was spent in the futile efforts to gain more earthly possessions, it all comes to an end. The severe evil Solomon speaks of is the misuse of time. We occupy this earth for such a brief time, but we can still make a difference in the life of someone else. When we live only for self, we are wasting. Even when we gain the whole world, if we keep it all for ourselves, we’ve deprived those in true need and failed to find the purpose for which God created us.

I find something interesting in verse 17 in particular. From a health standpoint, you find that those who are the most driven in the business world, those who obsess with getting more, being the best, “workaholic”-type people, often have physical health problems such as ulcers, emotional disturbances, stress, all of which wreck the body as well as the soul. Thousands of years ago Solomon, in his wisdom, described the state of man even today. Where is the satisfaction we work so hard to find and possess? It is always out of reach, unless we turn our life over to the Lord and allow Him to lead us in His ways.

That is the message of the remaining verses of chapter five. Our abilities, gifts, talents, blessings, riches, all are gifts from God which we are to use to glorify the Lord. He gives us everything we have in order to equip us to serve Him in whatever capacity He has for us. We are not to covet or worship the blessings themselves, but the One who gave them. We are not to horde them or be prideful over them. Instead, we should share them with those who need it most. In this way we are not kept busy in the endless search for purpose and fulfillment, but kept busy in the joyful pursuit of Christ’s will.

Solomon had it right. We need to take time to listen to his advice. On every hand you will find no shortage of people who want to throw in their “two cents,” who want to tell you how you should do things, whether you ask for it or not. But we need to be discerning of what the true Christian has to say to us, for in those words God may be speaking to us. At the time it might not seem like anything but a waste of precious moments of life, but one day we will look back and be very grateful that someone cared enough about us to share their experience with us. That is how our lives are changed. So listen to Solomon; listen to those spiritual men and women around you, and you will be glad you did.

© 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.

Monday's Paranoia Express

My wife, a teacher at a local high school, was talking about the end of the school day. As students were making their way across the open campus after today’s final classes, she noticed a peculiar yet increasingly common phenomenon. From hidden recesses in backpacks or jackets came the small electronic devices, attached mostly to white cords inserted into the device as well as the ear canals of said students.

The MP3 phenomenon has indeed swept across the nation, children and adults alike basking in the aural bliss of their favorite tunes. Why, even this pastor and blogster enjoys his 8GB Apple iPod nano, the sleek black design fitting comfortably in any pocket. Movie soundtracks, classical-style music, trumpet and other instrumental selections, and audio performance tracks make up the bulk of my listening selections, and even as I type this entry, the player rests, comfortably attached to a clock-radio designed to both play and recharge the iPod.

I chuckled as my mind wandered back to my own days at the same school at which my wife is now employed. I imagined what life would have been like if this technology had existed in those not-so-long-ago days when CDs were all the rage, and almost everyone you talked to still knew what a record or an 8-track actually was.

I exited my recliner and moved to the refrigerator, grabbing a quick glass of orange juice, when a recent experience leapt to mind. Last week I was listening to my player as I changed the movable-letter message board in front of my church when I felt a tingle at the base of my left ear. “A stray insect, perhaps; an errant whisker poking the lobe,” I said to myself, scratching my ear, the sensation still barely apparent.

Getting the new letters for the new message organized, I returned outside, when suddenly the feeling returned, this time much more intense, enough to make me grab my ear out of sheer reflex. At that moment I knew it was not a bug, but electric shock. Granted, the MP3 player was not generating vast amounts of power, but it was still enough to cause a tingle that when I think about it now, I still feel it. Needless to say, I will be ordering some new ear buds. Unless . . .

Here’s my theory. The MP3 player industry may not be for entertainment value alone. It may be some government method of mind control. My experience with the mild electric shock could have been an opening salvo, perhaps a test run or a glitch in the system prior to its widespread launch. Or maybe I’m totally off base.

My point here (and yes, I have a point, even though it really has nothing to do with all I’ve said) is that we have a great fixation on things, and spend much of our idle time merely idling through life. For all the millions of music and entertainment devices out there in our homes, schools and places of recreation, there are millions of people who need to hear the message of Jesus.

As I thought of those students gladly meeting the end of their day, celebrating by listening to some “groovy tunes,” and as I thought of them sticking those little ear bud speakers into their ears as I have done countless times myself (at least until the short circuit in the wiring), I wondered, “How many of those kids have had the Gospel placed into their ears? Compared to the number of times they’ve listen to their music players, how many times have they heard the message that Jesus really does love and care about them?”

Our technology has become something we just can’t live without anymore. We gripe and complain about them, but when the computers don’t work or the batteries run down, we’re almost at a loss for what to do. If we as Christians were half as faithful as these little electronic conveniences we have, how many people’s lives could be changed for the better? How many souls would be touched, how many people encouraged and given hope?

Tonight when I go to bed I will fulfill my nightly ritual: a chapter of reading and listening to my iPod. But my mind will also be thinking about the countless opportunities we have before us each day to reach people for Christ. And who knows? Maybe some of those MP3 players have downloaded my sermon “Podcasts!” How great would that be?

© 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.

Much Ado About Abram - Genesis 12

I have set aside each Thursday for discussion of a Daily Bible Study topic originating on the David Phelps message boards. Special thanks should go to the faithfulness of two individuals, Jennifer and Tiffany, who present the subjects as well as inspire thoughtful discussion and consideration of God’s Word. They are truly to be commended for their efforts and prayers offered for their continued guidance as they help others keep up their study of the Word.

While I do not wish to take up too much time, I did want to consider the Study from January 19, which examined Genesis chapter 12. Jennifer posed some very thought-provoking questions which, if we take the time to think about some of them, will cause us to dig a bit deeper into the Bible to not only find the answers, but the message the Lord is giving us through those words. I wish to take just a couple of those questions and address them here briefly.

(If you are interested, just go to http://www.davidphelps.com/board2/viewtopic.php?t=6556 to view the message thread and all the questions associated with it.)

1. WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ABRAM?
Abram’s background was one which existed in a culture of idol worship, of a people far away from the one true Lord. But this illustrates to us the desire of God to use people of all backgrounds. The Lord wanted someone who would listen to Him, a rare commodity in those days. Noah’s generation was bereft of faithful individuals, and humanity had once again sunk to the depths of ignorance.

Still, God calls to all of us, and because of Abram’s faithfulness to listen, to hear and obey God’s call, the Lord used him to establish the covenant of faith, that one day certain promises were to be fulfilled through Abram’s descendants.

Today the Lord still calls on people to serve Him, but many deny or defy that call. If we look at the life of Abram we discover that those who follow the Lord with sincerity and worship will inherit the many blessings God has promised to His children. Sometimes the call may be frightening or confusing, but if we rely on Him in faith, even if it means giving up everything we know, everything with which we are “comfortable,” then we can possess greater blessings ahead.

Additionally, we will find that God most often directs us on a path, without revealing the destination or what to expect along the way. This should not dissuade us from following Him. Faith means we move and trust in God to get us where we’re going. If He laid everything out before us, if He removed every obstacle or struggle, would there even be a place or need for our faith? I don’t think so.

2. What does it mean where it says “called on the name of the LORD”?
We need to remember what the name of the LORD represents. It actually represents everything the LORD is. Recall that God said to Moses (concerning His name), “I AM that I AM.” When Jesus appears in the New Testament, He quantifies that, saying, “I AM – the way, the truth, the life, the bread of life, the living water, the good shepherd, etc.” To call upon the name of the LORD is to call upon everything He is, every blessing, every power.

Our prayer life should not be merely, “God, here’s a list of what I want or need, Amen.” It should be a conversation, a two-way conversation, where we have fellowship with Him, presenting our worries, doubts, fears, and challenges; as well as our praise, worship and attention. Abram built an altar and called upon the name of the LORD. This indicates that our faithful worship of God requires from us both physical and spiritual effort. We need to truly offer ourselves as living sacrifices, every day in every way, not just working bodily, but spiritually, and vice versa.

Jennifer posed a question concerning the reason LORD was capitalized. There is a reason, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise, either! There is a reason, so try to find out! It’s important!

3. Abram and Sarai’s encounter with, and response to, Pharaoh.
On this little side trip to Egypt, Pharaoh was smitten with Sarai, who at age 65 was still a very beautiful woman. Abram and Sarai cooked up this idea to tell Pharaoh that they were brother and sister. This wasn’t entirely a lie. Sarai was the half-sister of Abram (Genesis 20:12), but the fact remains they were married, so this was a deception.

(For those who would argue that this ‘half-sister’ statement was merely a Hebrew colloquialism indicating that Sarai was a niece and not a half-sister, just try not to chew your fingers off or anything. Take Genesis 20:12 for what it says and move on. That’s what I’m doing. And besides, this is beside the main point. Don’t distract me! Hahaha.)

All of us are guilty of saying we trust in the Lord no matter what, but when push comes to shove we tend to be a little less than trusting. We allow fear and doubt to creep in and it begins to erode our faith. God has promised to be with us, and it is during those “hopeless” moments that the Lord is able to show us that nothing is “hopeless” with Him. All that is required on our part is to hold onto that faith, just one more minute, one more second, and He will always be there to show us that our faith is not misplaced.

Well, that will about do it for my discussion on this topic. I encourage you to spend some time each day with the Lord. The David Phelps message board is a good place to keep on top of things, with community support in your study efforts. Whether it’s reading on your own, going to the Phelps board or this blog, or just prayerfully considering God’s will for your life, don’t neglect it. I promise you that sooner or later, you’ll be glad for every moment you spent with Him. There is no better way to spend your time than in the only way that brings dividends now and in eternity. Give your thoughts, your time, your all to the Lord, and He will repay it richly with the power of His grace.

© 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.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

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.

Newsy-type News

Apologies for my most recent hiatus from the blog, but things have been pretty busy over the last week. I’ve made a few trips, prepared messages for church, and been engaged in some personal activities. Last Monday my wife, son, grandparents and I went to visit my cousin a couple of hours away. She had given birth the day before to her first child, a “miracle baby” in that doctors had told her she did not have a chance to ever have children. Cute kid, a little girl, which raised the grand total of great-grandchildren for my grandparents to two. At least, for the time being.

My wife and I discovered a little more than a week ago that we can expect a new addition to our own family long about September. Our son is excited, fully anticipating that he will be getting a little sister. Time will tell, but boy or girl, we are very excited. Truth be told, I kind of reacted the same way to this news as I did when I learned that our son was coming along: stunned and a little nauseous. We were not planning for the first nor the (upcoming) second child, but when the Lord wills, it is in His time.

So with all the activities going on, it has been quite a week. Each day is a new adventure, a new challenge, and with God’s help, we are able to endure and succeed. Great things are in store, and I look forward to whatever direction the Lord leads.

That’s all for now. Lord willing, I will be back tomorrow to pick up the discussion of Ecclesiastes and Thursday for Phelps Message Board Bible Study. See you then.

© 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.

The Lowdown for a Hiatus

Okay, so there are several things going on at present, things which I hope to expand upon in the near future. However, I will be unable to post any new entries this week, and possibly next week as well. Time will tell the tale.

Sorry I can't share more. I will say that things are going very well at church, and I am excited at the renewed enthusiasm and excitement for the Lord's w0rk in our community and in our world. People are stepping up to the challenge of serving and great things are in the works!

If you'd like to listen to some of our sermons online, you can click on the banner at the top of the page, you can visit http://westwoodchurchofgod.org/podcast , visit iTunes store and search for Pastor Chris Keeton, or go to http://feeds.feedburner.com/westwoodonline and directly download or stream the audio.

So, hope to be back with you very soon. Until then, keep in touch with the Lord, and He'll keep in touch with you!

This entry copyright 2007 by Soulscape and Chris Keeton, blah blah blah, yada yada yada . . .

Legitimate Sacrifice

Genesis 4:2b-7 {selected}

2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Over the years I have heard a few people ask questions concerning the text before us. They range from, “Didn’t Cain do his best, and if so, why did God reject his offering?” to “I simply don’t understand what the big deal was.” Well, there are a few things to point out in this portion of Scripture which might help with our own understanding.

First, we have to go back a chapter to see the beginning of the problem here in chapter four. Genesis 3:21 says, “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” This was the skin of animals which the Lord took to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. If you have not yet seen the comparison, with this verse we can see the beginning of the redemption story. It took the death of an innocent, the shedding of blood, to cover the shame and sin of man. Here we see a type or figure of what Jesus is going to do when He comes. It is here that we first recognize the necessity of an innocent blood sacrifice to atone for sin.

Moving to the text for this entry, we find Cain and Abel, two of the sons of Adam and Eve, we find the boys grown, their careers respectable and necessary for life: farmer and shepherd. Both recognized their need to offer a sacrifice to God, but one failed to see what was truly needed. Cain gave an offering of his crops. There was no blood involved, nor does the text say the offering was of his best. Abel, on the other hand, gave the best that he had, and his was a blood sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice was about respect and obedience. Cain’s was about formality and self.

We are reminded of two characters from the New Testament who seem similar to one another, but in reality, they are more spiritually related to Cain and Abel. Those characters are the rich young ruler and the Philippian jailer. The older of the two (at least chronologically in the Bible), the rich young ruler was like Cain, approaching Jesus with the question, “What must I do to have eternal life?” He had everything this world had to offer, had gone through the rituals, had followed the rules. But we see the selfishness of the question by the response Jesus gave him: sell everything, give it too the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven. However, the young man was not willing to pay the price.

On the other hand, we see the Philippian jailer (the younger of the two, again chronologically speaking) ask another question, different in its substance: “What must I do to be saved?” This man wanted salvation, while the young ruler wanted another possession, something else to “brag” about. The jailer was saved because of his sincerity and because he was willing to do what was necessary. Hence, we see why Cain’s offering was rejected, while his younger brother Abel’s sacrifice was accepted. (Notice offering verses sacrifice, and which is required.)

The reaction of Cain also reveals his selfish nature, that he became angry because his offering was not accepted. This was personal; he blamed everyone but himself, including his brother and God. So, to hide his own shame and guilt, he took it out on everyone else, eventually killing his brother and mocking God, saying, “What do I look like? A babysitter? You want to find my brother, then You look for Him.” A selfish and proud attitude will get you nowhere. Plus we see that one sin begets more sin. Disobedience, pride and selfishness led to anger, anger led to murder, which led to lying. Cain set out on a path that he didn’t think was all that big of a deal, but it took him further than he ever wanted to go. Such is the pattern of sin . . .every time.

Perhaps, though, the most telling verse of the passage under discussion is the final verse. God is not telling Cain (and us) that if you do your best things are okay. When He says, “If you do well . . .” the Lord is saying that if we do what is required, what is necessary. Atonement for sins comes only through the shedding of innocent blood. Anything short of that is sin. Sin is selfish, it robs us of victory, it separates us from the Father. The only innocent blood capable of being shed as a sacrifice and an atonement for our sin was the blood of Jesus.

In order to be saved, to find salvation, we must accept the sacrifice of Jesus as being for us. It is only through Him that we find salvation. And the Lord requires our best for Him. Remember that we are called upon to be “living sacrifices,” so in a sense we are giving our own blood, our lifeblood, to the Lord for His use. And what else? Giving ourselves as living sacrifices is our “reasonable service.” It is not unreasonable for God to demand that we gain salvation through His Son alone, nor is it unreasonable for Him to require our very best, our all, for Him. It doesn’t say, “Present part of your bodies as a living sacrifice,” nor does the Word say, “If you don’t want to give your bodies as a living sacrifice, something else will be sufficient.”

Still, the greatest truth to be found in this entry’s text (and the verse from chapter three) is the picture of Jesus and His sacrificial death for us. There need be no doubt nor fear, no questioning the reality or purpose of Jesus Christ. Yet we are compelled to evaluate our lives. Whom do we resemble, Cain or Abel? Do we resemble the rich young ruler or the Philippian jailer? Are we more interested in self, or in doing what the Lord requires, which is both reasonable and a blessing? Answering these questions now will help get us to where we truly want to be.

© 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.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes begins with a passage that is one of the most familiar from the entire Bible, thanks in large part Pete Seeger and the Byrds, minus of course of the “turn, turn, turn.” We need to recall the first two chapters of this book, though, in order to understand the emotional and spiritual condition of King Solomon, the writer of the Ecclesiastes.

We have seen pure dejection and despondency in the first two chapters, the utter despair of a man who has made too many wrong choices and is looking back on a life that could have been. As Solomon begins chapter three, the first eight verses especially, we can take it one of two ways, both of them valid (which I will explain). First, Solomon may be continuing the idea that there is nothing a person can do about life, that no matter how smart you are, how much you have, life has its seasons and we are subject to them. This may be a continuation of the depressed or even cynical attitude we’ve seen thus far.

Second, it may be a moment of clarity and acceptance. Many times when we find ourselves in difficult or painful situations, we “run the gamut” of emotions; one minute we are torn to pieces, the next we are calm and accepting, the next we are irrational. It would be easy to make the assumption that Solomon was just like us, feeling the same emotions, riding the same roller-coaster, and expressing himself accordingly. If this is indeed the case, it makes the wise and mighty King Solomon a bit more personal, that he wasn’t that much different than you or me.

Let’s go with this second idea for a bit, as I believe this approach helps us understand Solomon, and thus ourselves, a bit more. Verses 9-15 give us another “mood shift” in Solomon. Remember that the king has been looking back at his life, evaluating his mistakes as well as contemplating what life itself means. These verses before us now gives us further self-evaluation. Solomon has done much, but what is the point? There is rationale at work here, as he says that God has given us each a task to perform, and that our lives are eternal. Each life is a testament to the goodness of God, if the individual will live for that purpose. Enjoyment can be found in life, but only as we fill the role for which the Lord created us.

The last verses of this particular section, verses 14 and 15, show the wisdom of Solomon in a brief flash, much like the wisdom we ourselves sometimes exhibit. There are moments when everything is clear, and we understand in a way we never have before. Solomon acknowledges the perfection of God, that He has done all and done the best, and nothing can change it. There is stability and peace in the things of God which cannot be found anywhere else. And one day, we will have to give an account of our lives. But the first two lines of verse 15 show that wisdom. There is nothing new. God has seen it all. No matter what generation we happen to be in, mankind is the same; we have the same problems, the same fears, make the same mistakes, and the Lord is the only answer.

When things are going poorly, we like to think that justice will prevail. Deep down, we know that sooner or later, on this side of the grave or the other, justice will always prevail. But we like to think that those who do evil will get what they deserve. The thing is, sometimes we make those mistakes and do evil, and we’re the ones who deserve what’s coming to us. That’s not very pleasant to think about, but it’s true. King Solomon, in the remainder of chapter three, makes observations about the injustice that seems to be everywhere we turn. As we look at our own modern society, it seems that wickedness and iniquity are in the very places they should not be: in the halls of government, in churches, in our homes. Scandal and injustice seem to be winning.

I have said, as you yourself have either said or heard, “The Lord will work it out, everything will be okay.” Solomon was telling himself this, just as we tell ourselves. But as we have discussed and will see in the future studies, Solomon was the cause of much of this wickedness, because of his many choices to stray from God and serve himself.

Toward the end of the chapter, beginning with verse 18, we see the “depression” return. All of life is filled with the same patterns, “for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction.” All our choices come with consequences, and all of us will one day die, our bodies returning to the dust. At that point, only our legacy remains. We don’t know what will happen after we’re gone, but we should lay the foundation to make sure that things are taken care of, at least as far as what lies with us. Our spirit will stand before God, but our legacy remains.

While we are here, we should enjoy life, but there are two ways to do that: selfishly and unselfishly. We can live to ourselves, living for the moment, fulfilling our own desires with no thoughts of the consequences, and enjoy what life has to offer. But then life is over, and what do we have to show for it? There are consequences to every action, and we will answer for them, either here or there.

The second option is to enjoy our labors as we work in service to the Lord. There may not be much physical or material rewards to be had in this labor, but there is spiritual satisfaction that comes only through working for God and fulfilling His purpose for us. It doesn’t matter what others do, it matters what we do. How will you be remembered? What will be your legacy? It might seem that you’re not accomplishing anything, that you don’t make a difference, but if you are faithfully serving the Lord, then rejoice! You are creating a heritage for yourself here (even if you don’t see the results), and also in the eternal heaven.

Remain faithful and true to God, live for others and not yourself, and even though it may seem that injustice and failure abound, you are succeeding. This life is temporary, but we are eternal. Therefore we must live for the eternal. There is a season for everything in life, and with each passing day our seasons are growing shorter. It is imperative we take advantage of every opportunity. Right now, or someday, we will look back on our life. Will we be pleased or disappointed? But more importantly, with the Lord be pleased or disappointed?

© 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.

Listening and Doing

Some of you have commented that you would like to hear some of the messages delivered at my church. Well, that opportunity has finally arrived. We have started “podcasting,” or making audio episodes of the sermons available for download or streaming audio listening. You can go to iTunes and search for Westwood Church of God or Pastor Chris Keeton, or you can go to our church website and listen from there (click here for the direct link to the church page). Or, if you already have iTunes installed, you can just click here to be taken directly to the Music Store Podcast page for the church.

The most recent service was actually the first-time effort of a man who answered God’s call and delivered a message to the congregation. This man is very shy when it comes to public speaking, but he decided to obey the Lord, lay his own nervousness aside, and press forward. His message, coupled with the act of tremendous courage it took to overcome that fear, is truly inspiring, especially for those who know him well.

I was as excited as a parent watching his child accomplish some great feat. Not only that, but I know from experience how difficult it can be to get up in front of a crowd to speak (especially when you’re delivering God’s Word). But all throughout the service, I could not help but think about what God wants to do in our lives.

God’s wish is for us to be obedient. We say we trust Him, that He knows what right and what’s best, but often when He calls us to do something, anything, we react as if to say, “Um, excuse me, but I think You’ve made a slight error.” Or we flat-out refuse to comply or we run away. But God does indeed know what He’s doing, and so when He calls you, don’t be afraid to answer.

It has nothing to do with your abilities, but your level of obedience, of letting the Lord work through you and with you. You are not alone when it comes to serving God. And it doesn’t matter if you can do it as well as someone else. What matters is that you do it as best as you can do it. You see, God calls each of us for a reason. If He wanted it done like someone else could do it, He would have asked them. But instead, He calls you, because you are the one to do the job, whatever it might be.

By your own courage to stand up and answer the call to serve (in whatever capacity that might be), you may bring inspiration and revival to countless others. Revival is like a door, and each of us are the key. It might take us being used in order to open revival to everyone. Refusing to be used of God, and the door may remain locked for everyone. The Lord has gifted each of us in some way, and He has bought victory for us. Now is the time to take it. The only thing standing in our way is ourselves.

What is it the Lord is calling you to do? Is it witnessing more? Studying? Praying? Preaching or teaching? Singing? You may think that you don’t have the ability, and you would be right. But remember, it’s not about what you can do, but about what God can do. If you are willing to be used of Him, He is more than capable to get the job done. So just let Him.

There is great victory and blessings lying before us, just around the next bend. I used in Sunday Morning’s message (also available for listening) a quote from Arthur Godfrey, which sums it up pretty well: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” You may be on the right track, but are you moving? The Christian life isn’t about sitting still, it’s about moving forward. Now is the time for great work to be done for the kingdom of God, and the person to do that work is you. Are you willing to step up?

Success isn’t always about ability or talent. It’s about courage. But more than that, it’s about what God can do through a willing vessel. Let God show you what He can really do through you, and may He receive all the glory from every breath of our life.

© 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.

Godly Living Made Simple . . .sort of

Mark 12:33

"And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Practical Christianity in action. When someone asks, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” this is the answer. It is an answer that, unfortunately, many believers themselves do not grasp. The reason is because that the Christian life is more than just following a list of rules or being good. It’s about an attitude and a way of life.

In order to fully understand this idea, we need to couple Mark 12:33 with another couple of verses, namely Romans 12:1-2 — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. God does not want a bunch of rule-followers who only do what they do to get to heaven. He wants people who will give their lives to Him out of love, and will live for Him because they want to do so, not because they are forced to do so.

The problem with the religious establishment of the first century and before was that so much emphasis was placed upon animal sacrifice and strict adherence to the Law. That was the old system. But when Jesus came He took the role of the perfect and only sacrifice, dying once for all sinners and all sin. At that moment, humanity was offered the opportunity to go from outsiders to insiders, from worshiping God from afar to being part of His family.

Having the right attitude is essential in being a Christian. If you notice the phrasing in Mark 12:33, you find that what the Lord desires is a right heart, right attitudes, above empty actions or ritual. For instance, loving with all the heart, with understanding, and with the entire soul and strength are attitudes toward God. Loving one’s neighbor as oneself is an attitude toward our fellow man (recall Christ’s response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”). These attitudes toward God and toward man are the right attitudes, the ones He wishes us to have.

But as we look at the end of the verse, we find that these attitudes are more valuable to the Lord than animal sacrifices or offerings (whether it’s an offering of our possessions, efforts, time, or anything else). In days of old, only parts of the animals were burned as sacrifices, and only for extremely special and rare occasions was the entire sacrifice burned. Jesus, then, is saying that the attitude of the heart, toward God and fellow man, is better than even the most important and special sacrifices. It’s more than just going through the motions. It’s a living religion of the heart, not a “dead” religion of form.

When we ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?” or “What does the Lord want?” we must use these verses explored in this discussion. It is a fact that none of us live exactly where we should, but our goal should be to follow the instructions the Lord gave us in His word, which we have already examined. God has a desire for living sacrifices. Are you living for Him? Are you sacrificing yourself daily for His will and not yours? Fulfillment, satisfaction and success come from a life lived sacrificially for Him, and when we love Him with all we have and are, and our neighbors as much as ourselves, only then are we living the way God wishes. And only then are we transformed and can prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Sounds good to me.

© 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.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

I trust everyone had a pleasant Christmas and New Year’s Day, and that you plan to make the best of 2007. It is wonderful to be back with you, so let’s get right back into our schedule of entries and studies.

There has always been a desire for knowledge and understanding. Perhaps it would be better to say that there has always been a desire for wisdom, which is the ability to do what is right with knowledge and understanding. Solomon, as we have previously discussed, was the wisest man who ever lived, being gifted by God with a wisdom not granted to any other human being. But Solomon was still human, and as such was still capable of error. He chose not to use the wisdom God had given him, and it cost him dearly. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us a bit about the mindset of this man.

Chapter two is a particularly vibrant piece of Scripture in which Solomon describes in poetic detail his observations of human nature and the meaning of earthly life, and the results of such a life. Today, as then, we seem to have a “been-there” mentality when it comes to living. We like to hear the first-hand accounts of those who have experienced certain aspects of life, we sometimes want their advice. But most often we have to go through a thing ourselves before we finally “get it,” or before we learn our lesson.

Solomon uses this chapter to explain his approach to life, with the continuing observation that “all is vanity,” meaning that everything in this life is insufficient for the reason we seek them: lasting fulfillment.

In the first eight verses, the king tells us that since he had the means to try, he would. He would try everything, every pleasure, every possession this world had to offer. In verse nine, Solomon effectively says, “I had it all, more than anyone else ever possessed, and I still had this wisdom thing. Life, or so I thought, was good.” He found out the hard way that he was incorrect.

It is possible to take the blessings of God and do one of three things with them: use them, misuse them, or ignore them. History’s pages are filled with countless examples of those who made their choice. But it was theirs to make. Solomon asked for wisdom, and received it. But then he chose to ignore it. As the next verses appear, we see one of the most prolific examples of the “If it feels good, do it” persona. Verses 10 and 11 recount Solomon saying something like this (a very modern attitude), “I could have anything I wanted, and it was fun, and I enjoyed it so much that life itself was its own reward. Then I grew up, and as I looked back on life, I asked myself, ‘What do I really have to show for all that time and all those pursuits?’ Nothing but emptiness.”

At this point, Solomon reflects on life, the cyclical nature of it, the repetitiveness. He realizes that wisdom is greater than folly, then he utters some of the most profound words ever spoken by anyone aside from Jesus. Those words are found in verse 14: The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all.

As wise as we may think we are, all of us have our moments of wisdom and folly. We all make mistakes, and we are all capable of exercising right and righteous judgment. We sometimes forget that we have the capacity for both, and it remains our choice. Solomon chose poorly on many occasions, but so have we. Look back upon your life, and you will find numerous examples of when you yourself made the wrong choice. The question is, have you yet reached the place Solomon did, and realized that a pursuit of wisdom is the only wise course in this life?

Verse 15 points to the fact that royalty or commoner, wise or fool, we are all alike. There is a common bond within humanity which unites us all: we are all weak, we all make mistakes, we all pass from this life. As grand as our accomplishments may be, or as anonymous as possible, we leave this life, and all our pursuits come to an end.

If you think for any length of time about life like this, it can really get you down. Such was the case with King Solomon, as we read in verse 17. When we reach this place, it can be dangerous, because we may be tempted to be give up on everything. But this we cannot do, as it would be foolish. Wisdom requires that we accept the situation, and move forward, keep pressing on, using the lessons of life to grow, not to destroy us.

No matter what you do in this life, someone else will one day take your place. And what will they do with your life’s work, with your legacy? It’s out of our hands, and this in and of itself makes us see the futility of much of this world’s pursuits.

We can’t give up, we can’t give in, but we must learn from our mistakes and live our life before God as best we can. This does not mean that we must simply “be good” in order to gain heaven. It means that we must use the wisdom God has given us, namely, to accept Christ as Savior and live daily for Him. We will make mistakes along the way, we will feel inadequate and perhaps like a failure at times. And in the world’s eyes, that may be true. But it is the condition of our heart, and the view which God takes of us, that determines the vanity or victory of life.

Remember this as you approach life. Don’t work for this life, but for the life to come. Don’t be discouraged by mistakes, but learn from them and do not repeat them. Look to God, not to self. Do not try to grasp the wind, but grasp the Savior. This life is temporary, but the Lord offers life eternal. So lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven by living the life God intends, not the futile existence of this earth. Don’t wait until late in life, after all your bad choices, to arrive at this place. Take the advice of one who has “been there and done that,” and by listening to King Solomon and acting on those words, make your future (and thus one day your past) a source of satisfaction and not regret.

© 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.