Recently, I have been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes. Written by an aging King who has seen his fair share of good times and bad, the writer simply refers to himself as the “preacher.” He is a man who has a message to share. So, for twelve chapters, the “preacher” proclaims simple lessons about life.
When reading the words of the "preacher," my mind returns to a dear man to whom I had the honor of preaching his Eulogy. I can only imagine how many changes he has seen over his 92 years. As I remember him, I celebrate a gentle farmer who was faithful to his wife of nearly 71 years, who loved his 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 9 great, great grandchildren. I believe he would agree with the “preacher” of Ecclesiastes and say, "These are some good points to live by."
Let’s take a quick survey of some of these “Life Lessons" from the Book of Eccelesiastes.
1. Don’t get too worked up. Everything will be ok.
“That which has been is what will be. That which is done is what will be done. And there is nothing new under the sun.” (chapter 1: 9)
2. Don’t get caught up in the “rat race” of life.
“And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven;” (chapter 1: 13)
“And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.” (chapter 1: 17)
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”
"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."
(chapter 2: 1-2, 11)
3. Enjoy your work. It is a gift from God.
"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man."
"So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot."
(chapter 12-13, 22)
4. Take time to Love the people in your life.
"Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun."
(chapter 9:9)
5. Give everything your best effort.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going."
(chapter 9:10)
6. Keep your eyes on Jesus, live with integrity, and finish well.
"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (chapter 12: 13-14)
