November 19, 2023
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Reading along with us in Ecclesiastes? Here’s today’s reading:
Ecclesiastes 9 (NIV)
A Common Destiny for All
1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.……Continue Reading
Solomon continued with his sad commentary on life that we all end up with the same way; good or bad, evil or righteous, we just end up dead and forgotten.
Thank goodness we know that not to be true but that those who believe in Christ will end up sitting at his feet and as far as those not remembered it is true that over time our memories fade I think God has given us the amazing ability to leave an indelible mark on others once we are gone from their lives. Unfortunately that mark can be a good or a bad thing so we should always take care with one another. But that also means we have the opportunity to reach people and leave a lasting impression in their lives. We have the chance to help them to find the hope and salvation Christ offers that would free them from the ‘life is meaningless” mindset that Solomon and many people in the world have!
Ecc 9
Geez. Can it get more depressing Can’t imagine living in Old Testament times. Obviously not much hope in resurrection after you die. So Solomon says enjoy life Sin has twisted this life so that some righteousness is not rewarded. And evil seems to be. Proverbs explains how life would be if everything was fair. Solomon is explaining how it is in an imperfect world. All this being said. To be a child of God and not of this world is an awesome place to be
Ecclesiastes 9 Solomon says death is the fate that awaits us all, we know our fate though because of Christ it doesn’t end at death. Solomon does urge us to enjoy God’s gift of life in simple ways. We need to get the most and best from life and to prepare for the hereafter.
It can be really hard to read Ecclesiastes as Pastor said today in church. As I also have found. But it is the Word of God and it is given to us for a reason. And we can learn many valuable lessons from it both good and bad. But when we read it we need to remember that Solomon spoke as one who didn`t have a walk with God because of his many sins even though God spoke to him directly. His sins clouded his own perception. And never do we read in this book or any where in the scripture that he brought his sin to the Lord with a contrite heart. At least I don`t remember seeing it. So of course his life was bleak with no hope. In this chapter he states that his life is meaningless. verse 9 and he also states in verse 10. [ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.] In other words it doesn`t matter if you do good or evil for when you die that is it. This thinking is so wrong for there is a life after death. Either with God in fellowship with Him or eternally separated from Him in Hell. May the Lord bless you all.
16 ¶ Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war;
But one sinner destroys much good.”
“For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.”
Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 NKJV
Ecclesiastes 9
Ecclesiastes 9
In some ways we share the same end, that we will all die and our opportunity to work and effect others for right or wrong will end, but in other ways we don’t. The righteous will have a more peaceful end knowing they did right and even better God will reward the righteous in their work. In fact if we have no influence on this life and nothing is improved by our efforts, it is not man’s opinion that matters any way. And even as it is right to live our lives and enjoy our families and the provisions and material things we have worked for and made wise choices in, why would we consider that meaningless when that is the life that God has orchestrated for us? He has made us relational beings with the ability to enjoy things. And then beyond that to effect eternity in lives we influence for God and the glory we bring to God…in that sense, nothing is meaningless!
It’s important that we remember those people who have gone before us who lived lives full of goodness, righteousness, and godly purpose. Those who were written about in God’s word, the heroes that made this world a better place for us, and the ones we knew in our own lives. When we honor them, we reflect upon what everyday people can do with the strength of God and know that it is possible for us to have the same influence over others.