Prayer: Father, help me today to put the things of life into perspective through the writings of Ecclesiastes. Amen.
Bible Project Ecclesiastes Overview: https://youtu.be/lrsQ1tc-2wk
Reading: Ecclesiastes key: vs. 12-14 “I, Kohelet, am king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my heart to seek and examine by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a burdensome task God has given the sons of men to keep them occupied. I have seen all the deeds done under the sun; and behold, all is meaningless and chasing after the wind.” TLV
Attention: Here was a king who had it all by worldly standards. He had fame, wealth, and wisdom given from God. Yet, he says, he held nothing back from himself. Not pleasure in any source, not things, or objects. He was the ultimate hedonist.
If Solomon lived today, he would have all the toys of the rich and famous, yachts, helicopters, atv’s, and all the latest electronic gadgets. He might even run with the rich and famous. He denied himself nothing. If he wanted it, he got it. The latest and greatest military equipment (the latest in chariot’s, swords, shields, and weaponry), a palatial mansion, pools, gardens, and horses.
For those of us who live on the other end of the spectrum, I do not find his words very encouraging. The world tells us that if we are not rich, we do not measure up. If we do not have the latest in 5G technology, we are outdated. If we do not dress in the latest styles, we are not hip.
Then, Solomon summarizes this chapter with these words, “So I applied my heart to know wisdom as well as to know madness and folly. I learned that this too was pursuit of the wind. For with much wisdom comes much grief, and whoever keeps increasing knowledge, increases heartache (vs. 17-18).” Even his pursuit of wisdom and folly, was futile and meaningless. That is particularly unsettling to me because Solomon asked for wisdom and God granted him his wish and gave him riches because of his selfless request. It is also unsettling to me because of his closing statement, “For with much wisdom comes grief, and whoever keeps increasing knowledge, increases heartache.”
We just studied grief in the book of Lamentations and having grieved and been around those who are grieving, not fun. Grief and sorrow are not something which we all pursue. To think that “increasing knowledge” increases heartache, I find discouraging. None of us sign up for grief or heartache, but they both are emotional experiences in life. God wired us with emotions of grief, sorrow, lament, and heartache. How we process our emotions is in proportion to our concept of God. Big problems, small god. Big God, small problems.
Action: I choose to embrace a concept in which God (Adonai) is in control of our circumstances.
Yield: I choose to submit to the supremacy of God in all the circumstances of life.
Engage: I choose to engage in the process of giving God control of my life.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate, holy, obedient relationship with God.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 2:6 “For Adonai gives wisdom. Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”
Music Video: Keith & Kristyn Getty—Perfect Wisdom of Our God https://youtu.be/hSnzYnOe6kI?si=4Zx9rqFlv3N7rkGH
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”