Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 – Have an eternal perspective

The preacher had established that under heaven, everything has a time and season. Though not very openly, he had affirmed the Sovereignty of God, having asserted that from life to death there is a season for everything under heaven. We all know that God has complete control of time which He had granted to us men. In Ecclesiastes 3:9-15, Solomon then returned to talk about work again. Here he asked the same old rhetorical question. “What gain has the worker from his toil?” He was certainly interested to know what he could get from the investment of his time and effort. Ecclesiastes 3:10 gives us the conclusion of his observation of how busily people go about their work. While he acknowledged that they were God-given assignment, he still wondered whether it was worth all the effort at all.  The preacher probably still stuck to his belief expressed in chapter 2, i.e. that every work under the sun is vexation.

A first impression of this book of Ecclesiastes is that Solomon had a very pessimistic outlook of life and work. Yet there were moments when his mind had got a better hold over his pessimism, and he caught a glimpse of something positive out of all the seeming ashes of life. One such moment is found in verse 11. In that moment, he saw that God was in control of time and appreciated His sovereignty. So, he wrote, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time”. His conclusion was that God has everything so well-ordered that everything finds its place and season in His hand. He certainly will make all things beautiful at the right time. This is a timely reminder, that all the experiences we go through in life are never without God’s permission. It is His design to bring about a complete us under His hand. Remember in those long lonely hours, God is always on time.

Knowing that God has a part in everything we experience in life does not mean that we will of necessity appreciate it. This is where the dilemma comes from. Although God has put eternity in our soul, yet in our physical body it does not seem so. We seem to be progressively weaker and frail by the day. We are caught between time and eternity. God had made us eternal creatures but we are made to live in a time-bound world. The eternal nature God had created us to be makes us yearn for eternity, but the frustrating part is that our time and sense-bound life, due to the fall, makes us incapable of knowing everything ahead of us. And that’s frustrating. There is a huge divide between our present mortality and our future destiny. This is expressed in verse 11. “He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”  Our limited perspective of life cannot grasp the complete picture of what God has installed for us. His view of everything and everyone is wholistic. He can see our end from the beginning. His is a whole view, ours is only a point of view. We can only see it when we come to it.  Ever wonder why we get flustered in life here on earth? Here’s the answer, when we fall short of God’s ideal for our life. While God has a perfect plan for us for all eternity, it requires time to hone us while we are here on earth. But we want to reach there immediately because of our instant mentality. And that’s where our eternal nature clashes with our fallen nature, and we ended up flustered, unfulfilled and unsatisfied.  It’s our eternal nature yearning for the home where we belong.  Our hearts will always be restless until we find our peace with God through Christ.

It is a certainty that we do not know everything in the future. In the meanwhile, there are still things that we can do in preparation for the unknown future. Solomon made two recommendations in verses 12-15.  Firstly, we lay hold of the time God has granted us and usefully seize every moment and joyfully live it in the service of God. Just be engaged and get busy in the business of living for God.  Learn to enjoy life, factoring God into all our activities. The eating and drinking are just an expression of the way we do life. Be grateful for life and work that God has granted us. The second thing we ought to do is shown in verses 14-15. Solomon knew that “whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.” What he is saying here is that we must trust the sovereignty of God. There is a season for everything under heaven. We may not see it, but complementarily everything works according to God’s ordination. When we are caught between time and eternity, we apply what Hebrews 12:1b-2 tell us to do, “…run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” We emulate the Lord Jesus who has shown us how to run the race before us!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - Carpe Diem – Seize the day!

“Carpe Diem” is a Latin phrase meaning “pluck the day.” It is used as a call for all to seize the day or to seize the opportunity. Time is relentlessly moving on. Once it’s passed, it is gone forever. The Greek has two terms that is translated time in the Bible. One word is “Kronos” where we get the word chronology or chronograph. It speaks of physical time like the 24 hours we have in a day. The other word is “Kairos”, better translated as opportunity. It is the content or activities that fill our “kronos.” They are the substance that will help us make the difference in life. That’s why Paul urged us in Ephesians to redeem the opportunity or the “Kairos”, for the days are evil.

In these verses, Solomon virtually penned a beautiful poem that shows how orderly our God truly is. The orderliness of life is so well captured in these verses that even the singing group, “the Byrds”, had put it into a song, entitled – “Turn, Turn, Turn.”  Yes, to everything there is a season. Time has its beginning in the Sovereign God. Before He created the world, there was no time. It was just a long stretch of endless eternity. The moment God brought the world into existence, time began. Conscious of it or not, nothing happens outside of the will of God. In these eight verses, we see 14 pairs of couplets to show that God through time covers every aspect of life in human experience. A time to be born and a time to die is speaking about the whole range of human existence. A time to weep and a time to laugh encompass a whole range of human emotion.

What these eight verses tells us also is that God is the keeper of time. He is in total control of all our time, and He regulates the hours, the minutes and the seconds. Nothing happens to us outside of God’s supervision. There is not a moment of our life that God is not aware of. Not only is God in control of time completely, He is also the regulator of time. In Him there is precise orderliness and that tells us that He is a God of precision. He does things just at the right time. There is no misplaced activity with God. 

We shall not take the time to account for each activity enumerated in these 14 couplets. But do think of it this way, birth and death are two appointments that everyone of us must keep.  Both our birth and our death follow God’s timetable. The Bible said we are intricately formed in our mother’s womb, but it also says that it is appointed unto man once to die. When we consider this list of 14 couplets, we must see them as complementary not supplementary. It is not a case of one over the other, but a case of one and the other. God shows that by His character. He is both a God of love as well as a God of wrath. In the same way we accept both these attributes of His, we also accept that each of the 14 sets that states two complementary opposites will be experienced in life.     

Time is in God’s hand. He is the author and finisher of it. What do we do with time and its whole stratagem of activities? We are exhorted in Ephesians 5:16 to make the best of our time. What does it mean for us practically? Here are a few for our consideration. Firstly we must take God’s timing into consideration as we plan the activities of our life. Secondly, we seize each moment and maximize it, knowing that once that moment passes us, we can never have it back. Every second wasted is every second lost forever. Thirdly, we make sure that we profitably use every moment. Don’t squander it in mindless activities that lead us nowhere. Make your life count. Memorise Psalm 90:12 and tuck it somewhere in your heart. Make it one of your life verses. “Lord, teach us to number our days aright so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 – Work for God, your real master

The preacher had attempted many things in his search for a meaningful life. He tried wisdom and he tried morality all to no avail. He gave a go at a hedonistic lifestyle, indulged in self-aggrandizement only to be frustrated and vexed. Then he returned to explore secular wisdom and put much thoughts to life. Though he found secular wisdom a little advantageous over folly, yet they both yield absolutely nothing meaningful. He found himself hating life and loathing it and he said so in Ecclesiastes 2:17.

In fact, he hated work particularly and not just anything in general. This he verbalized in Ecclesiastes 2:18. Why so? For after all, people expect work to give them a sense of purpose in life. A deeper reflection tells us that work was God’s first mandate to man. After He had created Adam, he specifically told him to go dress, keep and till the garden and have dominion over all that God had created. We should find satisfaction for after all it is a God given assignment in life. People feel defined by their job and derive satisfaction over what one does for a living. But not so says the preacher here.

According to him, work is the wrong place to look for meaning in life. Work can be demanding. When one lopsidedly spends undue time till he has no time for any other thing, he will soon feel the ill-effect of overwork. What about being overworked and underpaid. Then what about difficult colleagues or domineering superiors we work with or under. Some had to work with lazy subordinates and ended up having to pick up the mess they had created. What about people from other departments of one’s employment, whose assignment we must coordinate with. And they seem to be slow in working everything. One can certainly be left very frustrated at work.

What frustrates Solomon was the thought that he couldn’t take any profit he had gained with him after he passed on. It is another person who would inherit the profit from his hard work. He realizes that one day he has to leave everything behind and someone else would inherit the result of his labor. Giving up to despair he exclaimed in verses 20-21, “So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labours under the sun, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.” One can spend a whole life building his empire only to hand over to another who would squander it within a short space of time. He couldn’t guarantee that his successor would continue with the good work he had begun. No one can be sure of what will happen in the future. The very thought of all these brought undue depression to him. To think that he was working for someone else’s benefit. In deed his son Rehoboam squandered the kingdom he had worked so hard to galvanize. Immediately after he ascended the throne, 1 Kings 12 revealed that he lost ten tribes to the Northern Kingdom. Here Solomon’s concern for permanence of his work was proven true. His son had failed him and God miserably.

In verse 22-23, Solomon revealed his second frustration. It was bad enough to think that all his works would benefit someone else who could squander it. Now he had to content with the fact that all his works required him to toil and labour hard. He had to literally sweat it out to achieve success.  And when he went to bed at night, his mind would still be considering different things he must do to achieve more. This truly vexed him. Work to him was “sorrow” and “vexation.” Then as a turnoff event, he saw a bit of positive light to alleviate him from his depression. In verses 24-25, he tried to bring some positivity to his work and toil. So, he said, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” It is true that when one factors God into one’s life’s work, his perspective of life takes a different angle. He just learns to enjoy the fruit of his labour.

As we come to the close of this passage, we realize what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 is so true.  That if we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” There is a marked difference when we let God have the first claim in our life and in all we do. We will realize as Paul had told his protege in 1 Timothy 4:4-5, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” One last counsel from Paul as we close. 1 Corinthians 25:58 Paul urges us: “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” Let this be our focus!

Ecclesiastes 2:12–17 – Real life is found in Christ

Like it or not most people have an inquisitive and curious mind. This is even more obvious among three or four years old children. Their curiosity is simply unfathomable. Like a toddler, driven by his quest for a meaningful life, Solomon, full of curiosity, asked questions relentlessly. Questions that begin with the wrong premise can be disconcerting. No matter how many we may ask, when we begin with the wrong premise, we will never arrive at the desired conclusion. It is said that answers to life is often found in asking the right questions. But we will be disappointed and frustrated when we ask right questions at the wrong place, or we go to the right place but ask the wrong questions. All these happened to Solomon.

So far, he had discovered that secular wisdom failed to give him what he was searching for, and neither did morality nor pleasures. He then went in search through other means which also proved fruitless. So, he returned to reconsider and take a relook at secular wisdom and pleasure again. This is quite common among people. Having failed at the first attempt and go about other means, then come back to where they had earlier tried and failed, and re-walk through again. Perhaps they could be second time fortunate. So, we find in verse 12 he echoed what he said earlier in Ecclesiastes 1:13 and 17. He returned to re-examine wisdom, madness and folly. And found that wisdom, though unable to answer every one of his question, was still more advantageous than a mad fool.  

In these verses he also contrasted between wisdom and folly in terms of light and darkness. Light of course is better than darkness. The fact is clear, with wisdom one can at least think through and be illuminated. But a fool experiences only darkness. However, his conclusion is that whether wise or foolish, both share the same end. Whatever they have, would equally be forgotten. At the graveyard you find scholars as well as the unlearned. Death is the great equalizer of mankind. One can hold a doctoral degree and one who barely passed his PSLE, are equally susceptible to death. There is no exception to this experience. All have to pass through it. He was certain that “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” As usual his common refrain is “this also is vanity.”

With impending death, it seems foolhardy to think about life. The more he thought about it, the more he loathed life. To be frustrated with life is one thing but to hate it, is quite another. The only remedy it seems is to find wisdom that comes from above the sun perspective. This is where Paul’s comforting word in Colossians 3:1-4 takes on a new dimension. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” These verses help us to view life form another plane. We can love life now instead of hating it. When we view life from Jesus’ perspective, we see life, glory and hope, now and for all eternity. Glory to His name!

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 – Rich and full life in God’s presence

In affluence Singapore, everybody is in a hurry and busy making money. Everybody is always going for that one last dollar available in life. Our culture of grab-all-you-can lifestyle has cultivated in many an insatiable appetite. At the end of the day, the nagging question such drive causes one to ask is the same old one, “Is this all there is to life?” There are probably more millionaires today then some 40 years ago. Yet despite being rich, many in our nation still suffer poverty of the soul.

Earlier in Ecclesiastes 1, Solomon tried reasoning to uncover the mystery of human existence, and he went away very dissatisfied and vexed. Because by rationalization no one has ever figured out the mysteries to human existence. He could of course sit back and remain frustrated and dejected or he could explore another approach to discovering life. The latter was exactly what he did. But for us sitting on the side-line and looking in, we are always better being a Monday morning quarterback. When spectators, like us, discuss a game played over the weekend on Monday morning, we always seem to have the right strategies to counter the opponent’s advances. Sadly, Solomon did not have the advantage of hindsight. We would have counselled him to go for God straight away and he would have been satisfied. 

But alas that was not to be. He thought to himself that perhaps he should experiment with pleasure. The word “test” in verse 1 suggests that what he did was an experiment, an attempt to discover what he was searching for through personal experience. The other word that probably caught your attention, as it did mine, is the word “I.” His whole concentration was on himself – “I, me, myself and mine.” He was totally self-absorbed. We can’t help but get his strong sense of self-indulgence. His aim was to make personal happiness his chief end, a hedonist of a sort. This is not just typically Solomon, many today also adopt that kind of life too. Self -aggrandizement is the call of the day. Solomon did not take too long to discover that pleasure cannot bring lasting satisfaction. So immediately, in the same verse we read, “But behold this also was vanity.” Pleasure was long on promise but short on delivery. So, he left very dissatisfied. 

In verses 2-8, he listed the whole catalogue of pleasures he indulged in. He tried comedy, it failed to deliver. His conclusion was that laughter did not last. As Bee Gees had so aptly said in their song “And the joke was on me.” That was how he felt. So, his final word on comedy and pleasure, “It is mad,” and “What use is it?” Then he tried wine, hoping the alcohol with its numbing effect could erase whatever dissatisfaction life had offered. The drinking might numb his senses, but it certainly did not erase the fact that life is brief and short and he only had a short duration to drink. 

In addition to pleasure and wine, he had enough to try out the lifestyle of the rich and famous. He built beautiful home, planted great beautiful garden, constructed well-irrigated vineyard for himself. This preacher was an architect, a developer, and a builder, all three rolled into one. With that mega-project he needed to get a large workforce to maintain and upkeep his property. So, he acquired servants and maids. To top his life of pleasure and to satisfy his sex cravings, he had many concubines. Besides, he had no shortage of cash, gold and what have you. Wine, women and song – Solomon had them all. His was a lifestyle of the rich and famous. He was not just the wisest man but also the richest man of his time. But for all that he had and all that he pursued, he came to one crushing discovery: “Behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” 

For all the wisdom and riches he had, Solomon was much poorer than David, his father. Hear what David said about joy and pleasure in Psalm 16:11, “You (Jehovah) make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Beloved, if we want joy, pleasure and true life, they can never be found anywhere else. It certainly cannot be found in self-aggrandizement. True life of joy and pleasure forevermore can only be found in the presence of God. Go for His presence and you will have true life – rich and full. 

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – The futility of secular wisdom

Everyone is searching for meaning in life. People would go through great length to look for happiness. Some will go for money, the more the merrier. But we know that money has brought joy to many but also pain to just as many. It is not a good remedy to the search for a meaningful life. Others think it is in friendship. But friends make a good circle but poor center. They have the capacity to disappoint you. Some think that it is found in having a jolly good time. The truth is this: if one party brings meaning to life, then one hundred parties should make life complete. But we know that when the lights are off, man still has to face the loneliness he faces with himself. The issue with seeking meaning and happiness in life lies not so much in how to get it but where one goes to get it.

Going by what the preacher said in verses 12-18, he made it clear that he was also searching for meaning to living. He didn’t hide his intention as well. It is obvious that he began at the wrong place to get it. Though he was a king and a brilliant one too, he obviously did not find meaning in having so much power. So, he set out to look for it elsewhere. He tried wisdom which is a commendable one to begin with. Rather than seeking popularity, pleasure and personal accomplishment, his first attempt was at wisdom, the human sort of wisdom or better termed “secular wisdom.” He wanted to understand the business of life and was baffled by the mundaneness of it. People seem to go about doing life joylessly. And for all the activities involved, there was no concrete conclusion. So, in verses 14-15, he came to his own conclusion in his fruitless search, saying, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.”

In verse 16, we are told that he set his heart to it. He did not go about casually looking for meaning to life. He stated what was said of him, he was a man of great wisdom more so than all the men from Jerusalem. He was not making an empty boast. He was known for his wisdom and exceptional knowledge. Though he didn’t discover what he was looking for, he did not give up. He was not easily discouraged. Verses 16-18 tell us that he continued and pressed on in the search. Engaging in a frustrating soliloquy, the preacher admitted to himself saying, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly.” His conclusion in the last part of verse 17, “I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.” He found that his search for the “so called” wisdom, didn’t come anywhere nearer the truth. He still failed far short of the answer he was looking for.

What do these verses tell us? Human reason and secular wisdom can only take us to a certain degree but it can never lead us to fully understand God or the things and ways of God. Here is a good advice from Jeremiah 9:23-24. God said, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom … but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me” Lovingly God will never leave us in despair. His promise to us in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 is this: ““What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” The spiritual world cannot be understood via secular means. Paul tells us that spiritual truths are spiritually discerned. It is impossible to make sense of spiritual truth with merely the human mind. We need to understand it through the mind of Christ. That’s the only way to know God’s liberating truth!

Ecclesiastes 1:4-11 – What goes around comes around

The preacher started with the premise that life is a cycle of endless mundane and meaningless routines. We all have seen a carousel in an amusement park. They are decked with all kinds of images of animals - horses, elephants, giraffes and what have you. Kids just simply love to ride on them. And as they spin around, they make a lot of noises, send out glitters and shimmering lights but not actually making any real progress. This is how the preacher saw life. This of course, as we have established, is because God is not factored into it. Life to him is running in a circle. To prove his point that man has nothing to show for all his efforts, it can be attested to by four illustrations.

He first illustrates by showing how generations of people have come and gone. Every generation comes to the scene once and then goes off the scene after its time, only to have another come to replace it. Each appearing on the world’s stage, made its presence and then went off the scene, yet the earth remained the same old one. Mankind is assailed with the same old attitudes and habits. The rise a of a new generation gives the impression that something new has arrived but a close scrutiny will tell us that everything remains much the same. Think about it this way, to a new generation, anyone above thirty years old is old fashion. The generation gap always exists, the old sees the young as lacking manners, the young sees the old as people who are stuck in the mud and conservative.

Secondly, he illustrates with the movement of the sun. This is the routine of the sun, early at dawn it rises and evening at dusk it goes down. The sunrise and sunset are by way of saying the sun has a daily routine that seems mindless and boring. There’s nothing new to its movement. Thirdly, he illustrates with the circuit of the wind. It flows ceaselessly round and round its predictable route yet accomplishing nothing. Then the flow of streams is used for the final illustration. Every stream continuously empties her water into the sea, yet the sea is never filled with its water. The level of water always seems to be somewhat the same. All the ceaseless and purposeless motion in the world is tedious to witness. The preacher here couldn’t find adequate words to express how wearisome it is. As far as he is concerned, there is no way anyone can explain earth’s fruitless and frantic activities.

Besides all these, human sensory experiences also tell him how truly meaningless life can be. This is a life outside of God of course. One just cannot seem to make sense of what his eyes see and his ears hear. Everything seems to be moving in a monotonous rut. There is nothing new under the sun – the same old, same old thing. Whether nature or human experience, life seems to be in a rut. So, what’s new? If the sun, wind and river have nothing to show for in their accomplishment, what hope is there for us man? Life is indeed wearisome and difficult to explain. We may see but can’t explain the intricate mechanism that got things working. Then there will be memory loss when old age hits and our mind become incapable of processing new facts. How quickly we forget the past. It seems like we will all succumb to some form of amnesia.

All these of course are under the sun’s perspective. For us who trust and believe in the Lord we are placed on a higher plane, to see from above the sun’s perspective. We have been bought with an awesome price. Jesus paid for it by His own blood. For us who trust Him, there is a promise of a new heaven and new earth where the sun will never set. This promise gives us a renewed hope. So, we set our eyes on things above where Christ is seated. We must seek to get ‘above the sun perspective’. And then we shall not be disappointed by the uncertainties of life, no matter how mundane.  

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 – Outside of God, life is same, lame and tame

The book opens by introducing the author as the preacher. The term “the preacher” is taken from the Hebrew word “Koheleth.” The word Ecclesiastes is a Greek derivative given as the title of the book by translators of the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament. It essentially means the leader of the called-out assembly. So, here he is giving his wise words. Verse 2 tells us that he was a son of David and a king in Jerusalem. The many insights given in this book, led many to conclude that the person who wrote them must be Solomon. For after all, he was considered to be the wisest man of his time.

The opening proposition of the preacher is that life is meaningless. It goes on and on in an endless cycle of mundane routine. It sounded like one sitting on a rocking chair, full of movement but going nowhere. The question he asked in verse 3 is ^“What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” Like him, we understand where he was coming from. Man lives in a profit driven culture. The primary concern is therefore, profit, of course. This is a question even students in our day would ask. “What’s in it for me?”  Like all people the author also wants to know the value of his work. He was looking to harvest a great yield from his hard work, but he wanted to estimate the gain he could get out of his work. So, he questioned the worth of his work. He wondered if he was really accomplishing anything at all. He even wondered, what would be the gain from the toil of his hand? Of course, his questions were merely rhetorical. He meant to get us into a discussion of the value of living.

Bear in mind that he was talking about a perspective that was seen under the sun. It’s earthly. It is a perspective where God is left out of the equation, a perspective where the purpose and will of God are not factored in one’s life journey. Hence it is a mundane and endless cycle of emptiness. Here’s where Saint Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo, was right when he said centuries ago, “God, You have created us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in You.” The author of Ecclesiastes was looking at life without God being at the center. That accounts for why life could be so meaningless and unfulfilled. Remember, outside of living for God and His purpose for our life, we will always find life drab, dull and unprofitable. Living outside of God’s will is like running on a treadmill. One can run and run and spend all of one’s energy, but at the end of the running will still be at the same spot. Only as we live in God and for God, will we find fulfilment, advancement, and great meaning to living.

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

Let’s begin our journey into the book of Ecclesiastes with a brief introduction . The author referred to himself as “the Preacher.” In the opening verse of the book he made two claims: namely that he was the son of David and that he was the king in Jerusalem. It is believed that he was none other than King Solomon, a man of great wisdom.

The term, “the Preacher” is taken from the Hebrew word “Koheleth” meaning one who addresses an assembly. And the term “Ecclesiastes” is the Greek version of the word “Koheleth.” It was the title given to this book in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The word “Ecclesia” means an assembly of the called-out ones – the church. And Ecclesiastes means the leader of the “Ecclesia.”  So, we know that the author saw himself as the leader of the assembled people of God. 

A quick scan of the book gives us a very pessimistic outlook of life that Solomon had gathered through personal experiences, researches and observations of what went on in the life of others. To him everything was vanity and meaninglessness. He portrayed life as one deplorable joke and death seemed to be the punchline. We can’ t help but to get the appalling impression that life is just a cycle of grim and gloom that goes on endlessly and meaninglessly. We get the ugly picture of the exploitation and oppression. Then there was the abuse of justice. What about the hardworking people failing to enjoy the benefit of their hard work? Worst of all, everyone, both man and animal, all share the same end – death. Wisely, Solomon asked many questions and then realized that knowledge, what he and all of mankind know and will ever know, is but a little fraction of all that is to be known. That fact so overwhelmed him that he saw no perfect answer to the mysteries surrounding human existence. Since we can never answer all the questions to the mysteries of life, one has to learn to cope with life.

As one carefully examines this book we will discover that the author had very artfully put together a piece of writing that depict what life would be without God.  The climatic and triumphant conclusion found is in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. It says: “The conclusion, when all has been heard is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”    

   

Proverbs 31:20-31 - The Ideal Wife (2)

A good wife has a great part to do with a man’s peace of mind and ability to fulfil his role well within the family. It will be great for him if his wife is progressively becoming the ideal wife that Proverbs 31:10-31 describe. Remember, these verses give us tips on how to be an ideal wife and not an ordeal one. In verses 20-31 we shall see the remaining qualities of an ideal wife.

Proverbs 31:20 tells us that she is generous. She is not driven by a selfish desire to grab and hoard resources. On the contrary, this verse reveals that she stretches out her hand to help the poor and lend a hand to the needy. Unlike snobbish people who often sneer at the poor, this ideal wife is not. She is kind and big-hearted.

Proverbs 31:21 tells us that she is a woman of great foresight. She thinks and plans in advance. By saying that she is not afraid of snow for her household, suggests that she prepares for the need of her family so that they will not be hampered during winter time. She prepares well to ensure that her family do not need to suffer because of cold weather.  

Proverbs 31:22 says that she is not shabby or sloppy. This woman of quality dresses well and appropriately. Her ability to be resourceful enables her to be able to afford to dress well and so she does. Verse 23 suggests that she also helps her husband to gain a good reputation by being a respectable person. By being industrious, she frees him to participate and contribute to the welfare of the community. Verse 24 reveals that her capability enables her to be a source of supply to traders who sell sashes and belts. She will not stay idle at home but creates a home industry out of her skilful hand.

Proverbs 31:25 describes her as clothed with energy, vitality and dignity. Her demeanour reflects her well-preparedness. She will calmly and confidently face the future for she has prepared herself so well that come what may, she will not become unhinged.  

Proverbs 31:26 tells us that she is also a great guide and counsellor. She wisely counsels her family members to the ground of safety by her insightful words. Unlike a woman who is indiscreet, this one lovingly supports and discreetly helps to steer the family toward the right direction. This suggests that she is not a boisterous woman who shouts direction indiscreetly, thus creating needless emotional hurts to other members of the family.

Proverbs 31:27 points to the fact that she is also a watchful person. She looks over the affair of the family with a hawk’s eye. She supervises the home on her husband’s behalf to ensure that nothing is left unimproved within the family. She diligently sees to it that everything in the home is well and orderly.  

Proverbs 31:28 reveals that she is not only a great wife but also a great mother. Her children are full of respect for her. It will be evident in the way they show their courtesy and appreciate her love. She will also be the praise of her husband. And verse 29 tells us that she is the pride of her husband who prices her above everyone else. She is the pride of his life and he is not afraid to say so.  

Proverbs 31:30 shows that of all the ideals given earlier, none is more important than the fact that she is a God-fearing woman. Nothing shown by her virtuous and graceful conduct is as critical as this one. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is fitting that the ideal wife should top the list of her qualities of excellence with this most important quality – the fear of the Lord. This is indeed foundational to all her other qualities.  

Finally, in Proverbs 31:31, it shows us that she is a praiseworthy woman. Though she may give all her attention to the home mainly, yet her reputation will precede her and reaches far and wide within in the community. She will be known for her worth and be highly honoured.  

So be mindful that the ideal wife serves as a challenge to all the up and coming wife to be. It also suggests that the domestic life in a family is worth a woman’s attention. When the home is run well because of a virtuous woman, it is a place of great refuge from the world of chaos. To all who are seeking a wife, seek to find a great wife. For all those who are married, help your wife to become one, by being an ideal husband. All glory to God, who is able to transform both husband and wife to become the best that they each can be!

Proverbs 31:10-19 - The Ideal Wife (1)

These last 21 verses of the last chapter of the book of Proverbs pose as a unique conclusion to this book of wisdom. In many places, the earlier reference to the role of the women in this book, had not always presented it very positively. So, these last 21 verses present a very refreshing approach and change to the perspective of a woman and her faithfulness. This portion is suitably entitled in the New American Standard Bible as: Description of a worthy woman. A deeper reflection tells us that they are actually describing an ideal wife. This is made evidently clear by the rhetorical question asked in verse 10: “An excellent wife, who can find?” It tells us exactly what the author was thinking and talking about. An ideal wife, of course!

This is a woman of every man’s dream. We can at once think of no less than three useful reasons, though they could be others, for such a passage as this. Firstly, it will help a soon-to-be married woman prepare herself to be a great helpmeet to her husband to be. Secondly, it will help a wife to evaluate where she has not reached in terms of being an ideal wife. She can then make incremental adjustment and align herself to be one. Thirdly, it provides a guideline for a man looking for a great woman to be his wife. However, to be realistic, such a wife as the opening question suggests, is certainly hard to find. Bear in mind that ideal is always extreme. They are qualities that one should strive for but they are still a list of ideals. They should be there as a guide and not as a measure. One should not be unduly disappointed if she does not seem to have everyone of it. Even if she achieves 50 percent of this list, she is already a great wife. Based on the 22 Hebrew alphabets, this list shows us the picture of the different characteristic of an ideal wife. We shall cover the first ten today before we continue into the next twelve tomorrow.

Proverbs 31:10 tells us that an ideal wife is a noble wife. She is a woman of great moral value yet full of vigor and strength. The word jewel suggests that she is of great and priceless worth and certainly far more valuable than diamonds and precious gems.

Proverbs 31:11 suggests that she is trustworthy and this great trait gives confidence and ease to the mind of her husband. She knows how to act discreetly and has her husband’s interest at heart, even in his absence. Because of her contribution to the stability of the family, her husband has no lack of gains. She is his priceless asset and not liability.  

Proverbs 31:12 speaks of consistency. Her behaviour and conduct toward her husband is not erratic. She is always pursuing his best interest and seeks to do him good all the days of his life. Whether the circumstances of their marriage are congenial or not, she is relentingly undeterred. She is constant in the early years of their marriage and will remain faithful even in the advance and waning years of their lives. She will fully validate his trust by choosing her as his bride and partner for life.  

Proverbs 31:13 points to the fact that she is resourceful. Wool and flax are material used for making garments. It suggests that she makes sure that her family has enough material for their clothing. This ideal wife makes it her responsibility that her family members are adequately dressed.  

Proverbs 31: 14 reveals that she is also industrious. She will not spare any effort, even if it meant traveling a great distance, to meet the needs of her family. Like merchant-ships, she will not limit her search to just one place but many. This is to say that she will not leave a stone unturned to meet the needs of her family.

Proverbs 31:15 tells us that she is an early riser. Long before dawn, before the first beam of sunlight pierces through the golden sky, she would already be up and about. She does so to see that her family’s basic necessities for the day are prepared. She not only cares for her husband but also her children.  

Proverbs 31:16 indicates that she is also prudent. She has the ability to know where to invest. After due consideration and careful evaluation, she will wisely invest the money she has accumulated in a profitable field and has the potential to reap its rightful gain.   

Proverbs 31:17 is a picture of diligence. She undertakes to go about her tasks with vigour and strength. Nothing can impede her from fulfilling her duty. Once she has decided on a task, she fixes her eyes on the task and will not stop till the task is done. She simply has a sustained energy to complete a task not haphazardly but completely and painstakingly.

Proverbs 31:18 depicts her as a discerning and intuitive woman. One look at something she will have the astuteness to size up its worth. Even late into the night, she will be thinking and contemplating how to help her family advance. Besides, we are told in verse 19 that she is not an idle person. She will seize the remaining time she has at night to follow through with her work to make sure that they are all brought to a logical conclusion. With these we are given the first ten ideals. We will conclude with the next twelve remaining traits in: The Ideal Wife (2).

Proverbs 31:3-9 – Don’t fall prey to women, wine and power

Nothing is more important than self-control in a world that is out-of-control. This is especially so for people in leadership position. Women, wine and the lust for power are the three common luring temptations to anyone who is in leadership. A leader will soon be toppled if he does not take care to ensure that he does not fall prey to these crippling influences. In six verses, Lemuel’s mother warns him against being enticed by women, intoxicated by wine and blinded by the lust for power. As it was important for Lemuel, in pursuing purity, avoiding debauchery and leading wisely, it should also be our aim in leading ourselves and others successfully.

A leader must never give his strength, meaning his vigour and attention, to another woman other than his wife. Even with his wife, he must be able to rightly apportion and wisely spend his energy in taking care of her. To do so inordinately is also not a wise thing. But what’s worst is when a leader is enticed and besotted by other women. He will go to untold ends and exhaust his energies trying to needlessly secure their approval and acceptance. In so doing, he finds his energies sapped by his out-of-control passion and unable to discharge his rightful duties to fulfil the role he has been placed in. Notice the women is in plural. It is referring to womanizing. This is particularly dangerous for people in leadership. For by virtue of their position, women will be attracted to them. It pays to be watchful not to be led astray by a wanton desire for illegal tryst.

Secondly, a leader must also not succumb to excessive drinking of wine. It is not a fitting thing for a leader to be intoxicated by alcohol. Excessive wine dulls a person’s sensibility and clouds his ability to judge and evaluate a situation justly. To come under the influence of alcohol is already bad for an ordinary person, it is certainly horrendous for a leader to lose grip of his mind. Under the influence of alcohol, it is absolutely possible for one to behave in an undignified way and bring disgrace to his role as a leader. He will most certainly magnify his misdeed and the people who look up to his leadership will lose respect for him. Under the influence of alcohol, a leader will not be so sharp and astute in discerning the issue. He will be rendered incapable to make sound judgment. It is needful for a leader to exercise abstinence and get a hold of his mind to be able to lead wisely. Remember wine cannot effectively help one to deal with any issue. It only dulls one’s sense, helps him momentarily escape the stress but it remains there when he awakes from his drunken stupor. Wine can never erase one’s misery.  

Finally, in verses 8-9, the advice to a leader is for one to rule justly and wisely. A leader must not be so blinded by power till he loses his sight and concern for the needy. A leader not only takes care of those who can contribute towards the advancement of his cause, he also takes the time to meet the needs of the less fortunate. He must temper his leadership with compassion. Authority must always be exercised with grace. Let’s leave here by returning to the words of Proverbs 25:28, that says, “Like a city that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control over his spirit.” Between our goal and accomplishment, we need to cross via the bridge of discipline and self-control. We have no right to lead others when we are incapable of leading ourselves. Personal victory always precedes public success. Be wise and avoid the three crippling vices!

Proverbs 31:1-2 – A mother’s counsel

This is the concluding chapter of the book of Proverbs. It contains essentially the counsel or admonition which King Lemuel’s mother gave to him.  Who is Lemuel? He is believed to be Solomon. Why? Because this name means belonging to God. He was the gift that God gave to David, through Bathsheba after his repentance and reconciliation. We will never really know why he should be given another name. It could well be God’s way of reminding both parents of His grace and unrelenting mercy. We will never fully understand the extent of God’s love and mercy on this side of heaven. All we need to do is to accept that He is gracious, as shown in David’s own words in Psalm 103:14, “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.”  

If this Lemuel is truly Solomon, then the mother who counselled him must be Bathsheba. This introduction of the mother’s counsel reminds us that a son is better brought up when both the father and mother each play their part in the godly upbringing of the child. In the earlier chapters, most of the counsels came to him from the father with periodical sprinkling of the mother’s advice. Now in this concluding chapter we find the mother’s counsel being highlighted.

Verse 2 begins with the word “What.” It suggests that the mother was thinking of her son’s interest. It’s an indication of her concern to ensure that right counsel be given to the son to set him on the right course of life. It is an expression of desiring the son to align his life with what is right. She wants to ensure that her son is on track in the right path. The repetition of the word ‘what’ enforces the attention the mother showers on him. It is true that no godly mother would take her role casually. Having carried the son for nine months in her womb, they share an affinity no man will ever experience. The qualification phrases, “son of my vow” and son of my womb”, reveal how dear a child is to his or her mother. These opening verses underscore the important role a mother plays in the life of her son and daughter. Mothers, don’t downplay the importance of your input into your children’s life. Your impartation into their lives will provide the balance between authority and grace. While the father of the family must show how authority ought to be exercised, the mother demonstrates how faithfulness and grace can be shown. Every child needs a great father and a loving mother to bring balance to his or her life. Fathers, make being a great father our goal! Mothers, aim at being wonderful mothers! Let all roles be fulfilled to bring maximum glory to God in the home!      

Proverbs 30:29-33 – Confident Living

The charge of Moses to his protégé Joshua was to be bold and courageous and confidently lead the people into the promised land. The same charge, put in different words, was what the Apostle Paul’s call to Timothy as well. Both were told not to cower under a spirit of timidity. Like them, just as God was on their sides, God is also on our side. Let’s not give in to a spirit of timidity for He has given us a spirit of love, and discipline and sound mind.  This same exhortation is needful for us who are serving and living for the Lord in a fallen and intimidating world. Confidence can be seen as the quality of being certain of the ability we rely on. Without confidence, we will feel intimidated by others or by circumstances. So, in these last few verses of Proverbs from 29-33, we are encouraged to be confident. Illustrating with three animals before he went on to use the example of a king supported by a strong army, the author asserted that we should live and act boldly and confidently in life. All the time bearing in mind that our confidence is in the One whom we worship and serve. Hs is our strong tower and ever-present help in times of trouble.  

First on his list of illustrations was a lion, known as the king of the beasts. It is mighty and will not back down or turn away in the fear of challenges. So stately is a lion that it exudes confidence. Second on the list is the rooster, the king of the barnyard. A rooster struts around confidently and ruling his territory unperturbed. Third on the list is the he-goat, also viewed as the king of the pasture. A he-goat does not back down easily either. It will stare at strangers with dauntless intensity. Finally, Agur illustrates with a king, steadily leading his army of strong and stately soldiers.

To round up, verses 32-33 remind us of the need to exercise discipline and reasonableness as we stay confident in the Lord. Before jumping into doing anything foolish, we should think and consider its implications, especially in a needless conflict. It can be avoided when we think before we say or act. Bear in mind that our confidence rest on the relationship we have with the Lord. We need to be reasonable. False confidence is not being reasonable. Insisting on something without truth and supporting logic as a basis, can end up in needless strife. While we need to display confidence, but it must be the outflow of our deep trust in the Lord. So, stay confident, in the Lord of course!    

Proverbs 30:25-28 – Small, insignificant but full 0f impact

One human tendency is for man to equate bigness with success. When something is small, sadly it is often considered as ineffective and even seen as skirting around failure. People can go for all kinds of self-help seminars conducted by success gurus, without realizing that the Bible is the greatest handbook on how to accomplish success and victory. There is a false notion that something small and insignificant cannot be successful and effective. But many great things come in small packages. Success isn’t all about greatness. It is everything about diligence, hard work, discipline, consistence and constancy. Proverbs 30:24-28 show us four animals from the kingdom of the animals to let us know that, as insignificant as we are, we can make great impact and accomplish much.  

First in the category shown in verse 25 are the ants. The reference to people is to show that they are like human beings, living in a well-coordinated community. They are diligent and hardworking and anticipate things ahead of time. They will not leave till the last minute to do things. In fact, they prepare well in advance. This is seen in their diligence to store up food in the summer so that they will have something to thrive on in winter. They are a model for the sluggard to emulate. Great people are usually hardworking and plan ahead of time. They do not procrastinate.

Second in the category shown in verse 26 are the rock-badgers. What are rock badgers? They are furry animals found largely across South Africa and the Middle East. They resemble a guinea pig but are more robust and do not belong to the category of the rodent. They make their homes in the peaks of the rocks, that are inaccessible from their predators. Here we see a picture of resourcefulness. People who are successful may not be big or great, but they are certainly resourceful.   

Third in the category spoken of in verse 27 are the locusts that do not have a king yet are very orderly. They are like a well-structured army. They move in a disciplined manner though they have no commander. They are self-regulated and need not have someone to call them into order. Though a formidable pest, the locusts are united and disciplined. Their organizational ability is commended.

Last in the category, alluded to in verse 28, is the lizard. It may be small and can be crushed easily with the hand, yet it can penetrate and have access to the grandest of buildings like the palace. The lizard is used to illustrate persistency. Successful people are persistent. They do not give up easily and are not easily stumbled by failures along the way. We need to learn to be persistent.

Remember success has nothing to do with bigness. Do not despise the day of small things. Take advantage of them and use it as a launching pad to something great and permanent. So, be diligent, resourceful, disciplined and persistent.   

Proverbs 30:21-23 – People unfit for leadership

Life offers much to us to help us reach our potential when we live peacefully, unitedly and harmoniously with others within the community God has placed us. When the leaders and supporters can co-exist with great cohesion, personal and corporate growth in the community will be buoyant. However, when we have people and have misplaced roles, there will be disorientation and the peaceful flow of that community will be disrupted. When this happens, people will be restless and uncomfortable. What kind of people can unsettle a community?  Proverbs 30:21-23 provide us with four types of characters that can and will cause discord to a community. Identifying such characters enables us not to put such people in leadership, while reminding us not to emulate them.

The four types described in verses 21-23 are insufferable and unbearable. Humorously, the author defines these four kinds of people. When they are wrongly placed at the helm, they bring disrepute to the people living under their regime. Firstly, a servant who is not competent, being promoted to leadership. When such a person, lacking character, skills or the training, takes the lead in the community, the community suffers. They will be incompetent and disruptive. The second category of the unbearable are undeserving and undiscerning fools who are placed in leadership roles. Such type of people will eat their fill, then wouldn’t care about the needs of others under them. Their main concern is their personal needs. They will self-aggrandize without so much as thinking about the needs of others. Thirdly, verse 23 refers to a woman starved of love. Not accustomed to being loved, she will become difficult to live with. Her needless crave for attention can drive the man to insanity. She can become overly possessive and controlling. When a person who is like that, not accustomed to leadership, is placed in that role, he can become over controlling and his heavy-handedness can be intolerable and unsettling. Fourthly, a maid who usurps the place of her mistress and steals the affection of her mistress’ husband, will become conceited and odious. She is hard to get along and people associated with her will suffer under the weight of her tyranny. Let’s be aware that there are such types of people in our community. So, do not promote them to any leadership role.

Proverbs 30:15-20 – Living right

Desire is defined as deep yearning or a strong wish for something or someone. Our strongest action in life is where our deepest desire stirs. We usually act with passion for what our heart yearns deeply, be it someone or something. Desires are the driving force of our life. Proverbs 30:15-16 show us that people with a voracious appetite will be enthusiastic in acquiring what they desire. By a voracious appetite, we mean possessing a spirit of never having enough. If we have such an appetite for God, it is a desirable thing. Psalm 42:1 is a classic example. The Psalmist expresses his deepest longing saying, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.” It’s that feeling of not having enough of God that drove him into cultivating spiritual habits that keep him going after God with deep passion. His spiritual habits are sustained by his passion for God

Sadly, when one’s voracious appetite is for something that panders to the flesh, it is not a healthy desire. It will lead that person to be consumed by unhealthy activities. It is like a leech that keeps sucking blood but yet never satisfied. An insatiable appetite is like hades that will never be depleted with souls of the dead. Yet it keeps yearning for more to join the many that are already there. It is also like a barren woman yearning for a child till she has one. It is like earth that yearns for water to increase its fertility or like fire that will be drawn toward any flammable fuel to keep it burning. Be sure we have a voracious appetite for the right thing. 

Proverbs 30:17 decries the spirit of being unfilial. The Bible exhorts us to honour our parents so that our days on earth will be long. And when we violate this commandment we will end in misery and destruction. Honouring one’s parents is a sign of gratitude. And not to do so is showing ingratitude. Let’s never look down on our parents who are God’s instrument to bring us into existence. Let us live to honour them and show gratitude for the part they play in our life.  Obey them when we are young, support them when they are old and to love them all the time.   

Proverbs 30:18-20 tell us that there are things that are mystifying that defy logic. They seem unexplainable by logical. It’s a way of showing that we humans are limited. There are unexplainable truths that can’t be easily explained. We can seek to understand them but bear in mind that some of them are hard to explain. Here are four things cited to prove that there are inexplicable truths in life. Firstly, about the eagles. How come they are not subjected to the law of gravity? Ever wonder how an eagle can stay in the air and not fall to the ground? We know that they operate by a different law, the law of aerodynamics. But how does it work? Secondly about the serpent. Ever wonder how a serpent without feet can move around the rock so rapidly and swiftly? Thirdly, about a ship, an ocean liner. How can it stay afloat despite being so heavy? It defies logic. Fourthly, we cannot understand how an adulteress can be so blatant. She can engage in a tryst and walk away without feeling guilty about her sinful act. This is certainly incomprehensible. 

There are inexplicable things in life that we just have to accept. For things we can explain, we must act obediently, for things we cannot explain, we must trust explicitly. God knows everything better than us. Colossians 1:17 tells us that our Incomparable Christ is the one who holds everything together. For “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” He gives and sustains our life. It is wise to live for and to Him!