It might appear that the teacher in this section is calling people to pursue a life of moderation. One where we try to walk a balance of being perceived as either a “sinner” or a “saint.” Instead, the warning here is that there are two dangers we can fall into in life, living a life of destructive licentiousness or a life of self-righteous legalism. In truth no amount of sin will satisfy us and no amount of “saintly” behaviour is able to save us from death only the righteousness of Jesus is able to save us.
One thing is certain living in this world, sooner or later life gets hard. No matter how hard we may try to avoid the troubles of this world, sooner or later those troubles will find us. So how do we respond when adversity hits? How should we live when life gets hard? The Teacher has some wisdom to offer us that we won’t find in the world. First, live in denial about your mortality. Second, embrace correction. Third don’t take the easy way out. Even in the difficult times God is in control and you can trust him.
One of the blessings of Ecclesiastes is the Teachers constant reminder that God has given us good gifts to enjoy under the sun. However, those gifts can easily become gods. When gifts become gods not only will we not find the security and satisfaction we are looking for we also won’t be able to enjoy what God gives us to enjoy. When we search for that which can only be found in our creator in what he was created the end result is misery.
At the beginning of Chapter 5 the teacher gives instruction about how we ought to worship. The Teacher wants us to know that real worship, meaningful worship, doesn’t start with our mouths but with our ears. More than ritualistic praises, he longs for followers who give Him thoughtful attention and obedience.
At the beginning of Chapter 5 the teacher gives instruction about how we ought to worship. The Teacher wants us to know that real worship, meaningful worship, doesn’t start with our mouths but with our ears. More than ritualistic praises, he longs for followers who give Him thoughtful attention and obedience.
In this section of Ecclesiastes, we find three ways of living: we can live lives of isolation, lives of surface level popularity and fame or lives where we engage in true, authentic community. As the teacher unpacks these three ways of living one things becomes clear, life is better together.
As finite beings we are constantly aware of the passage of time. As the teacher ponders the seasons of life and the rhythms of time he comes to several conclusions. First there is a purpose to all that takes place. God is overseeing and working through all the circumstances of life and everything that God is doing lasts and has purpose. Unfortunately, what God is doing may not always make sense to us, and although we desire and long for answers and understanding we may not always get it. How then should we live? We should enjoy the good gifts God gives to us and give Him thanks for them and we should trust Him in the difficult and hard times, the times where we struggle to understand what is going on, because He makes all things beautiful in His time.
As finite beings we are constantly aware of the passage of time. As the teacher ponders the seasons of life and the rhythms of time he comes to several conclusions. First there is a purpose to all that takes place. God is overseeing and working through all the circumstances of life and everything that God is doing lasts and has purpose. Unfortunately, what God is doing may not always make sense to us, and although we desire and long for answers and understanding we may not always get it. How then should we live? We should enjoy the good gifts God gives to us and give Him thanks for them and we should trust Him in the difficult and hard times, the times where we struggle to understand what is going on, because He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Work is a gift from God. Human beings were made to find purpose and meaning through work. Work is a good thing, but work is not an ultimate thing and work can’t be the only thing. In the second half of Ecclesiastes chapter 2, Solomon extols the virtues of work and wisdom but also comes to the recognition that they are not enough. He acknowledges that in the end no matter how hard you work or how wise you are that death awaits you.