Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)

[13] 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.

 

Ecclesiastes is poetry. Poetry is not to be read in the same way as history, law or teaching passages. Like a good story poetry needs to be read all the way through to get the point. One of the errors commonly made with Ecclesiastes is that we read it and try to study and understand it verse by verse. Ecclesiastes is poetry reflecting on the meaning of life from an earthly perspective. As such, every part of the book must be read and understood in light of the conclusion. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, as quoted above, is the conclusion. Fear God and obey him because one day he will judge us. There will be nothing hidden from him on that day.

 

Ecclesiastes teaches that because there is sin in the world life looks empty and meaningless from our perspective. We live. We experience both joy and pain. We die and are forgotten. From "under the sun" life is pretty pointless. But Ecclesiastes is not a book of dark hopelessness. It is a book of perspective. From "under the sun" life appears pointless, but there is life beyond this life. We will one day stand before God and answer to him for what we have done with this life. If this is all there is then life has no point, but this is not all there is. That is the point of Ecclesiastes. So, if there is life beyond this life then how should we live in this life? Ecclesiastes is a call to a life of balance and faith. Work hard but learn to find joy in what you have. Fear God and obey him knowing that one day you will answer to him for what you have done in this life. Don't live for today, but enjoy today while you are able. Or to say it the way the Apostle Paul said it, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

 

I plan to spend the next several weeks in Ecclesiastes on Sunday mornings. Let me challenge you to read through the entire book of Ecclesiastes several times this week if possible. I would also suggest that Ecclesiastes is written in the context of the first three chapters of Genesis so I recommend going back to refresh your memory as to the content of those chapters. May God use this book powerfully in our lives to his glory.

 

By His grace,

Rick Weinert

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