Today I started reading the book of Ecclesiastes. It can be a very discouraging book if not taken in context, so I'm going to give the context right away, so as to look at everything in the proper light. The writer was King Solomon, the wisest and richest and most powerful man who lived, so he had everything, every option available to him, and this book is him looking at all of them and trying to find meaning. He concludes that, while it looks as though everything is just spinning in circles with no purpose, God is over all, and His purpose will stand. He also shows that looking for meaning in anything under the sun will leave you disappointed and discouraged, because meaning is found in God. When you look for meaning in Him, you will be able to enjoy everything you do, have, and see under the sun, because He will give it meaning.
With that in mind, and looking at the first 3 chapters, I'll be thinking about work & pleasure, wisdom & folly. Without God's perspective, pleasure becomes the ultimate goal, and work becomes a dull, repetitive, monotonous routine that we only slave through to afford the goal of a little more pleasure. With this ideology, we would be satisfied if we only had a little more time to relax, a bit less time at work. We crave fun like a drug, and we always want more of it. It comes to the point where we resent work, since the point of life is to have fun. The other side of the coin is to see work as the point of life. "So, what do you do for a living?" becomes the most important question to determine how successful someone is, how well they're living their life, and how satisfied they must be. Both of these mindsets will leave you wanting, because pleasure is an appetite that you can whet, but not satisfy, it's a moving target and there will always be more or better, and no matter how hard you work, there will always be more work to do, another step up the corporate ladder, another milestone to achieve, and retirement or injury or even death will come one day and take from you that ability to achieve. What happens when you reach the goal, in work or pleasure, that you thought would satisfy you, and it doesn't? That moment is inevitable, and you can either take it to mean that the next goal is really the one that will satisfy, or you can realize that you're not actually craving what you think you are. The brief moments of enjoyment in the chase for more don't mean you will be satisfied if you pursue work or pleasure endlessly, they're a hint that both work and pleasure were made to be enjoyed as you find meaning in God. He will put them in their proper place, and help you find joy in them, and satisfaction in Him.
I think I'll look at wisdom & folly a little more over the next couple of days. However, though wisdom is certainly better than folly, knowledge is not its own reward. It can bring pain and sorrow and grief as well, and it cannot stave off death or give life. But again, wisdom is not meant to be gained so you can be satisfied with how smart you are, Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3 talks about there being a time and season for everything. This should be encouraging because in the tough times we know that God is not taken by surprise. As I looked at yesterday, He's there with us, taking us where He wants us to go, and never leaving us. Also, we can know that everything happens for a season. It may be longer or shorter, but we can be confident in the season of weeping that a time to laugh will come, because God has ordained it.
I like the book of Ecclesiastes because in the good times or the tough times it helps put things in perspective. Focus your eyes, mind and heart on God, and He will lead you through all things, and give you joy throughout, and peace while the storm rages all around you, secure in His arms.
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