Tag Archives: Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 7, Acts 5-6

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Solomon writes “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” The crucial part of serving God is not the lack of sin, but rather the attitude towards it and the way we act after it has happened. Solomon had set out “to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness”, and discovered that “God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes”. Solomon had tried to gain wisdom through his own intellect, but discovered only the vanity of life. “I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me”.

In Acts 5-6, Jesus’ disciples were sharing true wisdom, without care for their own safety. Despite being “strictly charged… not to teach in this name”, Peter and the apostles answered “We must obey God rather than men”. They risked their lives to spread the gospel message that God had exalted Jesus, “to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins”. They even rejoiced“that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name… they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

Such passion and zeal is an encouraging example to us in a world filled with apathy. The 12 disciples resolved to “devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”. Let’s follow their example, and make God’s word the most important thing in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 5

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Ecclesiastes 5 offers some advice on the importance of listening. “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”. James quotes this in James 1v19, “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger”.

Amongst all the advice we’re given, listening carefully doesn’t feature prominently, but the way we listen is a good indicator of our relationship. With someone we barely know, listening is very superficial, their words soon forgotten. But we pay careful attention to the words of someone we know well or want to know better. The same applies to our relationship with God – listening carefully is an important aspect.

Jesus used the phrase “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”. A bit of hyperbole, since we all have ears, but attentive listening can easily be neglected in today’s busy world.  Unlike Israel, who “with their ears they can barely hear”, we have the chance to really hear and understand, “blessed are… your ears, for they hear”. So let’s take the time to “draw near to listen”, both to the needs of each other, and also the “wisdom from above”.

Ecclesiastes 1, John 17-18

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In John 17-18, we read a prayer Jesus gave on behalf of his disciples, knowing that his crucifixion was fast approaching. “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one… I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them”. This prayer was for all disciples, including us, that God would keep and love them. This thoughtfulness at a time of immense pressure really demonstrates Jesus’ true character and love for others.

This care for others even extended to those present at his trial, as Jesus patiently explains to them his purpose in life, “for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”.

Such a stark contrast to the way Solomon viewed the world, “All is vanity.” We have a hope, thanks to the love that God showed to Jesus, and Jesus showed to us, something more than vanity, a relationship with God.  Even when “all things are full of weariness”, that hope remains. Let us cling to that hope, allowing it to strengthen and motivate us, just as it did for Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 8, Acts 7

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Ecclesiastes 8 provides us with some perspective on the apparent lack of judgement suffered by the wicked. “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil… I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked”. Solomon reminds us that God will reward all according to their actions.

In Acts 7, Stephen reminds the council of the faith of the patriarchs demonstrated in their lives. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David etc all feared God and lived their life trusting that God would be faithful and reward the righteous.

Let us follow the example of the patriarchs, learn from Solomon’s advice, and show our love of God, trusting in His faithfulness that He will reward us.

Deuteronomy 20, Ecclesiastes 12, Acts 11-12

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“When you go out to war against your enemies… you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt”.  Just like God was with the Israelites, to “give them the victory”, God is also with us.  Although our enemy has no horses and chariots, the influence of sin in our life is an overwhelming one, requiring constant assistance from God to control.  Unfortunately we don’t have the option the Israelites did of going home if we’re afraid.  We’re in a daily battle for our very lives.

“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” advises the wisest man. It’s a simple yet challenging statement, one that requires constant work to grow and develop our relationship with God.  But God has “granted repentance that leads to life” to us, so even in the face of great opposition, whether from without or within, Paul’s exhort to “remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” is what we should remember.  This daily struggle against sin will one day end, and if we remain faithful as best we can now, we will gain eternal life, filled with “gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

 

 

Ecclesiastes 11, Acts 10

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Cornelius. A great example of faith, of not hiding his beliefs, of dedication to prayer. For some unspecified period of time he had prayed to God, and in Acts 10 that prayer was answered, and Peter was sent to educate him further.  “God shows no partiality” – even battle hardened centurions are welcome to “receive forgiveness of sins.”

The ways of God are incomprehensible to us, as Solomon eloquently describes.  Yet we know that God takes an interest in our lives. He knows what is best for us, and answers prayers accordingly.

Let’s work on following the example of Cornelius, to be known as someone that fears God and prays continuously.

Ecclesiastes 7, Acts 5-6

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Solomon writes “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”  The crucial part of serving God is not the lack of sin, but rather the attitude towards it and the way we act after it has happened.

None of Jesus’ disciples were sinless, but they still recognised that “we must obey God rather than men.”  They were prepared to dedicate their lives to God’s service, despite any mistakes they made along the way.  Peter, James and Stephen all risked their lives in Acts 5-6 to spread the gospel. They even rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor.”

Such passion and zeal is an encouraging example to us in a world filled with apathy. The 12 disciples resolved to “devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”. Let’s follow their example, and make God’s word the most important thing in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 6, Acts 3-4

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Solomon writes “All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.”  The natural man is never content with what it has, always wanting more.  The constant pursuit of material possessions is but vanity, “striving after wind.”

Stark contrast to Peter and John, who have no silver and gold, but yet have something vastly more precious – the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Peter and John share this good news which is able to satisfy the most needy of people, even those who are lame and destitute, through their faith.

Our faith in the name of Jesus Christ has the power to blot out sins, to offer us a part in the “times of refreshing” that will come, and to satisfy us eternally in the praise and worship of our great creator.

Deuteronomy 10-11, Ecclesiastes 4, Acts 1

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Moses reminded Israel that the heaven and earth belonged to God, along with all that they contained. Yet God had chosen them to be His unique and precious people.  God would be with them, giving them the promised land, providing for their needs, if they would obey the commandments of God.

God has also chosen us to be part of His unique and precious people. Just as the disciples of Jesus were called to be “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”, so we are called to be witnesses of God’s love, mercy, goodness and the hope offered to all.

Unlike the oppressed, who “had no one to comfort them”, we have an incredible hope. In a world where so many are without hope, it is our responsibility to share the hope we’ve been offered.

Ecclesiastes 1, John 17-18

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Jesus said that he came into the world “to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate’s response, “What is truth?” is thought provoking.  Jesus had just finished explaining the relationship between God, himself and us in a prayer before leaving for the garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus glorified God on earth by doing the work given him from God. He showed God’s name to people, he kept and guarded his disciples, giving them God’s word.  As a result, Jesus’ disciples were “not of the world”, loved by God in the same way that God loved Jesus.  It was Jesus’ prayer that “the love with which you have loved me may be in them.”

Such a stark contrast to the truth Solomon saw, “All is vanity.”  We have a hope, thanks to the love that God showed to Jesus, and Jesus showed to us, something more than vanity, a relationship with God.  Even when “all things are full of weariness”, that hope remains. Let us cling to that hope, allowing it to strengthen and motivate us, just as it did for Jesus.