“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” Eccl. 1:3
This New Year I will begin a devotional study from the book of Ecclesiastes. My concern in 2023 is the nation literally crumbling before my very eyes and the religious movements in America is changing so drastically from the doctrine and the truth that once was foundational beliefs. They are discarded. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 is a reality, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
I realize more each day that we really don't have much time left. I don’t know who will call the nation to repentance and seek the truth to present to lost people, but the Jesus many proclaim is a re-creation of what they want Him to be.
This book is not so much a call to repentance as it is the revelation of the futility of the things of this world. Hold on to Jesus tighter. He is your only strength and hope in these final days. The wisdom of Solomon in his day may allow us to continue our new year’s self-examinations.
On the third day of the Feast of the Tabernacle in Jewish synagogues, the book of Ecclesiastes is read. It was written from someone who saw that the promises of this life were vain.
Someone said, that a realist is an idealist who has gone through the fire and has been purified. A skeptic is an idealist who has gone through the fire and has been burned. There is a difference. I believe that many experiences can make us better people and those same experiences can make some bitter people. Which are you an idealist, a realist, or a skeptic?
The book of Ecclesiastes is written for all people and asks some of the most basic questions of life. He asks the question, “What is life all about really?”. It seems the writer has been completely disillusioned with it and concluded that life is just a great big nothing. I believe it is a realistic book. I believe that Solomon was an idealist who had gone through the fire and had been purified.
There is amazing beauty all around us, but when we are at the center of it all it seems to come and go so quickly. We need that stable anchor in unsettled times. It’s good to remind ourselves that it will not be found in Washington even though we need to pray regular for our president and elected officials.
Application: It is wise to do self-evaluation and ask ourselves what value is gained in this thing called life?
Prayer: Lord, help me to declare with Solomon - “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
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