Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
During our sojourn here on earth, there comes a point at which a person wonders about the nature and purpose of life. Many people become quite lost in their quest to answer questions about life and their purpose in it. Some follow only seemingly-sage advice, flimsy guidance, even if well-meaning, from people who are similarly lost. Others try to "find" themselves, and roam aimlessly, wasting their time with experiments. But children of God decide who they want to be: an emulation of Jesus, and then become it. Children of God follow truly-sage advice, firm guidance, matter of fact direction from scripture itself. When concerned with the existential, The Book of Ecclesiastes is where to go to sort it all out.
- I AM BUT A LITTLE CHILD
1 Kings 3:5-14
Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon. At the onset of his kingship, Solomon requested wisdom from God. And God, pleased with his selfless request, granted it... and much more. God granted Solomon so much wisdom and wealth, time and resource, that Solomon was able to comprehensively discover the value and vanity of life. In this book, he shares his results. With Solomon's results, we learn how not to waste our time with the vain things in life. There is daily and lifelong purpose in the words of the former king, for the days of life when we feel purposeless or see purposelessness and need the scaffolding of scripture as support.
- ALL IS VANITY
Ecclesiastes 1-2 (Solomon's existential crisis)
Solomon began the book in rather a low place. A low place, and a place not unfamiliar to people living today. For though much has changed in the world, very little (or less) has changed in the human heart, mind, body and soul. For as we live and operate within our families, communities and societies, whatever they look like and whatever time period they exist it, we feel the same feelings. We each undertake a physical, emotional and spiritual journey.
Solomon observed that generations come and go. Come... and go. Our lives are as real and immediate and intimate as millions before us... but they have passed as we will pass. We keep no memory of them, the future generation will have no memory of us... in this moment. And yet, this moment has meaning. And purpose. It has value and is worthy to be enjoyed and appreciated. It matters, as past moments mattered, for it leads to an eternal kingdom. These moments sculpt and tailor us for life with God, after earth. The limited, precious time here prepares us for time-irrelevance there.
The pressure of the quickness of life here causes us to learn crucial lessons... or squander those opportunities away. We choose. We choose either vanity, the pursuit of things and status in the eyes of ego and men. Or, we choose substance, the pursuit of spirit and status in the eyes of humility and God.
Each moment used to prepare ourselves for eternal union with God is a moment captured, utilized, to make a place, a person, a relationship, a community, a region, a nation, a world here on earth better. Each individual, in their emulation of Jesus, is capable of injecting peace into turmoil, order into chaos, patience into frustration, kindness into cruelty, morality into depravity. These daily opportunities contribute to individual growth of character, which in faith qualifies us for even more responsibility, even higher skill and capability, that then contributes to the state of the world through servitude to God.
- A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN
Ecclesiastes 3
Life does not often seem like a smooth trajectory. We make a mistake, have a lapse in judgement, and then learn. In that particular area. Then we do the same in another area, and it can feel like we are juggling multiple, different colored balls. We learn not to drop the green ball, but then drop the blue and yellow balls... and suddenly it does not feel that we have accomplished anything or grown in any significant way.
But Solomon tells us that there is a season and a time for ever matter under heaven. Surely the broad understanding of this is that God has a plan and a timeline for humanity and the host of heaven. But then Solomon makes it relevant to the individual; there is a time "to be born, and a time to die;... a time to weep, and a time to laugh;...a time to seek and a time to lose...". And if we accept this simple fact that life will be a journey of twists, inclines, and declines, we can then focus on God's ability and promise to persevere us through all of it.
What are those colored balls? Anything, everything. We might manage to discipline ourselves into generosity, when before we had a tendency of selfishness. At the same time, we might still fail in a whole other area: ex. tendency to fear, quickness to anger. Life is multifaceted and there's no shortage of lessons to learn. That can feel impossible, overwhelming. But Solomon reminds us that there is a time to seek, and a time to lose. There is a time to try and fail, so to speak. It is all part of a process God has created and placed each of us in.
- GOD-GIVEN TASK
Ecclesiastes 3:9
In 1 Kings 3:12 God explained that he gave Solomon wisdom and understanding unlike any person before or after him. We have to take advantage of this gift to humanity, from God, through Solomon. If Solomon gives the directive, in Ecclesiastes 3:12, to be joyful and to do good as long as we live (and he does give this directive) we have to remember its source: God, then trust that it is sage advice, and follow it!
Be joyful. Do good.
Does it say: be joyful when you have ample reason to be joyful and no reason not to be joyful? No. Does it say: do good when you have the time, the resources, and a deserving recipient? No. Instead, with these simple words, God via Solomon exhorts us to be tenaciously optimistic (and optimism as a Christian is realism); that is: to choose joy no matter what, with the strength to do so from our understanding of God and our relationship with Him. And to do good... in every moment, with whatever resource you do have in any place that or person that needs it. No stipulations. No fine print.
Be joyful.
Do good.
Opportunities for both will come to the servant of God who will host them. Naturally, there will be times when sadness is appropriate. But we must always stoke that joyful fire that is love and trust for God within us. Remain joyful in the fact that God will not allow you to permanently lose anyone, anything, any opportunity, that is good and dear to you.
- FROM DUST TO DUST
Ecclesiastes 3:16
A prescription of humility will solve a multitude of problems, including our concern now: existentialism. On one hand, we are children of God! Servants of the most high! Participants in the pursuit of righteousness endeavoring toward kingdom of Heaven! Purpose and direction enough for any spirit. On the other hand, we are like the animals. Our bodies are made from the raw materials around us and will return to the earth. Each individual is important to God, a crucial part of the whole body... but out individual body returns to dust. It is our spirit, our impact, that is eternal.
Therefore God, via Solomon, tells us that nothing is better than that man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. To be joyful and do good... work, assignments, to fill the spirit of self and others rather than ornament the body.