Sunday, 3 February 2019

Solomon's words

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When reading Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 2, I began to hear a play on words; The vanity in wisdom and the wisdom in vanity.

In verses 4-9 it becomes clear that as much as we have it's never enough. This is not to say that it's bad to have a good job, a nice home, etc. or to be popular among our co-workers and well liked by our neighbors. The difficulty arises if we don't know how to take all of that and give the glory to God. This is when it's not enough and it can become our downfall. If we are not giving God the glory than very quickly materialism and even happiness can separate us from His Presence.

We tend to live this life like we will live forever forgetting we are in this world temporarily. We strive, work and even worry about getting ahead or making ends meet, which to a certain point is necessary. However, we are called to the primary objective of investing in the Kingdom of God. Verse 16 is a strong statement which could help

us keep things is balance, "For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!"

Whether it is in meeting our physical needs or even in our service to the Kingdom of God, we must keep our perspective. There will always be someone that will take what we've accomplished and bring it forward to another level. This is a good thing but it can be a little hard to swallow if that's all I've accomplished in my life. Solomon's thoughts in verse 18 are fairly clear on that, "Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after

me." I do not believe that God gives us abilities and talents for us to be successful in this life only for us to resent them in the end.

As we enter the year 2019, may be work not according to our emotions and ambitions but according to His leading. Workers together In Him, according to His plan. In this way even though we live in a world of folly, we may enter into the authority God has given us in prayer and intercession.

The word hevel used throughout these passages is translated in a variety of ways. Vanity, futility meaningless and pointless to name a few. We are given the understanding that Solomon is talking about the pointlessness of human activity and the example of pride and egotism in our works. Withoutout Yeshua, this life and what we accomplish in it is of no meaning in the end.

This is taken from the Harvest of Asher Facebook page.