Ecclesiastes 9.
Sometimes I use the negative to help emphasize the positive. It can help make things more clear and definitive, allowing me to get off of the fence and choose more rightly. For instance, I might try on the negative for size and see how it feels in my mind. Or I might substitute opposite words, as in "you are either a Firefighter FOR Christ or...against". Maybe that's partly what I hope helps hit home the message of Ecclesiastes 9. Maybe it's cynicism and negativity will lead to positivity and better realization of reality.
Solomon is looking back on his back-slidden life, as an old man, full of shame, regret, and bitterness. Thus, the blues of Ecclesiastes sing a sullen tune. Truly, without Jesus, we can expect nothing more than to eat, drink, and be merry. This is the sad state of a world whose heart is far from its Savior. He came to save the lost and to provide lasting purpose and satisfaction that actually begins right now, as fleshly creatures on Earth, and continues eternally in the Spirit. But we just don't hear that type of encouragement and direction in the text this week. It leaves us lonely and longing for positivity and redemption. It's a sad song, indeed.
The chapter dismally concludes that we all have the same destination- the grave. And no one will remember you when you're gone. Whew! Of course, in Jesus, we have so much more in this life than this world can offer. As His disciples, we are cooperating with His plan and purpose, doing the things He says are important, loving Him and loving His people, boldly planting seeds and looking for opportunities to share and point to Him, learning from and about Him, gaining experience and broadening perspective, allowing Him to create a lasting legacy that continues on long after we are in the grave. He is making a difference in us and through us to reach the world He loves. I'd say that's a fairly worthwhile existence. He simply wants to have an eternal relationship with the people He created. The Father gave Jesus us as a gift. He died to get us. He wants to hang out with us both now and forever. Are we about that?
Now, we are starting to see a few more pure injects of Godly wisdom come through in the text. Check out verse 9. "Always be clothed in white." That's a simple rule of thumb to be saved, righteous, walking uprightly, living up, cleansed, pure, and forgiven. That's solid theological practice. That's a true part of our sanctification. "And anoint your head with oil." Whoa! Here's the first and maybe only reference to the Holy Spirit in Ecclesiastes. Oil usually represents the Holy Spirit and we are to be covered in it refreshingly, repeatedly, and regularly, as a good diet should be. May our entire being be continually influenced by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The rest of that paragraph is riddled with more negative conclusions that just leave you wanton for more positive direction. Verse 11 contains a still common saying, "the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong." This life is short, but we are to run as in a marathon, not a sprint. We are to "walk and not grow faint" as Isaiah taught. That speaks of walking daily through the grind of drudgery and difficulty. It speaks of continuing to walk in spite of the struggle. Keep going. Don't quit. Finish the race. There's great honor in just continuing to do what you have been called to do. There is no shame in simply maintaining. If you don't agree with me, consider a stay-at-home mom. What would you tell her? Oh, what an awesome honor it is for her to simply keep doing what she does. It is an amazing act of service that proves faithful and obedient love- and it makes a huge difference. Oh, how we would miss it if were to stop! "The battle to the strong" brings to mind the verse, "not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit, says the Lord". We cannot and should not live out this life on our own strength. It is a great awareness to realize we are not our own, but bought at a high price. We can't even make ourselves take a breath or make our hearts beat. He is the source of our life and peace as we walk this thing out.
The end of verse 11 is true and needs to be readily available in our reasoning and counsel. Stuff happens to everyone in this world. It rains on both good and evil. We simply live in a fallen world and suffer consequences of such. Now, in our faith, we don't believe anything is random or chaotically impacted, because we know God is sovereign. He knows what is going to happen and allows certain things to invade our lives. Sure, we may not know why certain things happen. He is faithful and obedient to make good out of anything we experience. Are we on board with that kind of positivity? We would do well to cooperate with that kind of strong faith, instead of getting whiny or bitter. True, no man knows the hour of his death, so I agree, we need to make the most of this life, as much as the Lord allows. We need to be bold and ready to share His love to the world. We should be appreciating the precious moments, soaking them up, being fully present and engaged, for they are brief and passing. Time is flying and I have no idea how to slow it down. I don't want to live under the cruel hand of negativity and bitterness. I want to somehow stay positive and full of faith. God is my Somehow. He's my only Hope to attain that in this tough world. Everyday, I feel the tug at my resolve, as if Satan is chipping away at my Foundation. Oh, how we need each other to build each other up, encouraging and strengthening belief. What gave us the notion we could make it on our own? What is this trend of friendlessness we are witnessing? In a time of more social media connections and quick messaging, we still are but surface talkers, just mere acquaintances, not truly going deep enough to make a lasting difference. If deep relationship is important to Jesus, it should be important to us.
On a side note that I believe somehow fits within this passage is my most recent mindset about work being a privilege. I saw a video of orphans in Tanzania on a Big Daddy Weave mission trip. They were getting to go to school and learn, a privilege reserved for the aristocrats and elite classes. They were working hard, paying attention, and smiling. They were loving it. I want to consider my position a privilege not to be taken for granted.
At the end of chapter 9 is an interesting story of a poor man in a small town surrounded by a king and huge army. But the poor wise man saved the city. That's the key. That's worth believing in. That's a life worth living. Now, true, the world didn't listen the man's words. They didn't remember or heed them after he was gone. But that in no way lessens the value of what the man did. That speaks of Jesus and what He did. That speaks of how the world despised and rejected Him. That same thing happens to us, as His disciples, but we should not lose heart or be discouraged. As the movie Second Hand Lions described, it is worth doing and it is worth believing in. It also reminds me of an old Martina McBride song, "Do it Anyway". Wisdom is better than strength. It's better than anything else this world heralds as valuable. Be encouraged, friends. Pursue what is good and right. Live up. Follow our King. Be positive. Have faith.
