This Keeps Coming Up

Recently I have been in the Book of Ecclesiastes in my reading through the Bible this year. I have always been amazed at the writings there and I know that the older I get the more appreciative I am of what is there for us.

When you read Ecclesiastes 1, Solomon says that everything is meaningless. Actually, the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says it this way-

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David and king in Jerusalem.

2 Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).

3 What profit does man have left from all his toil at which he toils under the sun? [Is life worth living?]

4 One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

You get the idea and I would encourage you to read this completely for your own edification.

I have learned a lot about life and there are things about it that are common to all. When you read what Solomon had to say in this as well as other writings, you see how common life is for each of us. That doesn’t mean that our lives are all the same but that there are commonalties which we all experience. You might say that is in the big scheme of things.

So as we all get older and come closer to our end, here we can find ourselves just like Solomon when you get to chapter 2 and read-

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.

19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.

20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.

21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?

23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

Wow, if you focus too much on the negatives like Solomon, you too could come to a conclusion like he did. But is that the actual conclusion he came to or was there more? Well, keep on reading and find out.

24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God.

25 For who can eat or who can have enjoyment any more than I can—apart from Him?

26 For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and heaping up, that he may give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it.

So as I read His Word and contemplate it in my heart, I come to a very important understanding. We should work hard and I know I have over the years. As a matter of fact, I continue to do so in ministry as unto the Lord. I have also understood that apart from Him I cannot and will not be able to enjoy this life He has given me.

When you get to this point in His Word, you go to chapter 3 and the everlasting words found in verse 1-8 using the ESV

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

The Hebrew word used here to designate time is (zeman), which means for everything there is an “appointed time”. This can be an annual ritual or any other time that is an appointment. This text makes clear to us that for everything there is a time, and a time for every activity under heaven.

Recently in a message we looked at these verses and I shared this with the church. Pete Seeger adapted a version from our text in Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 into a song entitled (“Turn, Turn, Turn”) which was recorded by The Byrd’s in 1965. Interestingly, this was during the Vietnam War, and the song was used to advocate for “A time for peace, (and as the lyrics added) I swear it’s not too late.”

We have all heard it before that there are only 24 hours in a day and there is nothing we can do to gain more. The sun goes down and the sun comes up. As verses 1-2 tells us-

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;

This keeps coming up every day for people. We were away for the 4th and had a great time with those we celebrated with for our nation’s birthday, and the conversations we had with them. At point, we were talking about life and thus eternal life. Very simply put, eternity for all begins at the moment of conception. What happens will either be eternity with God or one separated from Him. Don’t go off on a tangent here, let’s just keep this simple. If a life is conceived, it is because God allowed it and thus He determines the eternity prededicated on His own way. It is not for us to debate or question. The bottom line is, God is in control and the sooner we realize that truth in our lives, the better off we will be.

In God’s Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy