Most Christians find Ecclesiastes a pretty depressing book. Like Job, Ecclesiastes is one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible. Many read it and think, “Wow, everything is pointless and I will forever be sad because life is meaningless.” On the contrary, Ecclesiastes teaches us how to be happy!
The book answers the question, “What is the meaning of life?”. While Solomon concludes that everything in the world is empty to those who do not know Jesus (and even to those who do), He finds that you can actually enjoy life when you live close to God. Vanity is the direct result of the fall. Mankind was separated from God due to their sin. God cursed the earth and believers and nonbelievers alike are affected by it. Emptiness, futility, and death are all due to the events of Genesis 3. Nevertheless, Ecclesiastes reveals the secret to happiness in spite of the curse.
1. Ecclesiastes teaches that man cannot find a cure for the curse while on earth.
2. Ecclesiastes teaches that the proper response to the world’s emptiness is to understand it is not meant to be.
Realize that vanity is not what God intended for His people. This life is not how things are supposed to be. God wants us to be happy. Death is normal, but God doesn’t want us to die. The more we see the vanity of life, the more we can appreciate what Christ has done. He provided us with a way to enjoy life in the midst of the pain. Life is empty, but with Jesus we can navigate through its twists and turns with joy. God wants us to have fun! He wants us to do what we love! He wants us to pursue our dreams. As long as we fear God and obey His commands, we can let go and enjoy our favorite hobbies, movies, foods, holidays, people, talents, and songs! We don’t have to walk around with our head down or avoid the things that make us smile.
3. Ecclesiastes teaches that the purpose of life is to know and enjoy God.
The happiest moments of my life have been during worship, Bible Study, Christian fellowship, prayer sessions, and simply when I feel closer to God than ever before. When I passionately pursue Christ, He gives me abundant joy and happiness. My heart is full and my circumstances do not dictate my mood. I am never disappointed because I have permanent hope. I am never cast down because I have unconditional joy. I am never afraid because I have everlasting peace. I am free from worry over the future and obsessing over people’s opinions of me. I can live in the moment and enjoy the now. I can do what my hands find to do with all my might. I can focus on what’s important which is my character.
If we rest in the place where our deep hunger meets His deep gladness then we can let go, live in the now, do what we love, and enjoy life.
The book answers the question, “What is the meaning of life?”. While Solomon concludes that everything in the world is empty to those who do not know Jesus (and even to those who do), He finds that you can actually enjoy life when you live close to God. Vanity is the direct result of the fall. Mankind was separated from God due to their sin. God cursed the earth and believers and nonbelievers alike are affected by it. Emptiness, futility, and death are all due to the events of Genesis 3. Nevertheless, Ecclesiastes reveals the secret to happiness in spite of the curse.
Ecclesiastes teaches readers how to approach life after Eden and before the Kingdom of God.
1. Ecclesiastes teaches that man cannot find a cure for the curse while on earth.
All is vanity and striving after wind, and there is nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11Solomon tries to find fulfillment in knowledge, work, and self-indulgence, but soon realizes they do little to fulfill his longings (Ec. 2). How often do I seek to satisfy my desires with worldly things? When one thing stops filling me up, I move on to something else. I feel anxious, I drown out my thoughts with music. I feel bored, I watch Netflix. I feel inadequate, I study harder. I feel ugly, I pile on more makeup. I feel fat, I workout. I feel sad, I eat my sorrows away. I chase after the things of this world knowing deep down they will only temporarily fulfill me. Sin tricks me into believing that instant gratification is better than the real joy that comes from spending time with God. In reality, we will never be able to cure the curse. We naturally want perfection, but we will never achieve it apart from God.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, 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. Ecclesiastes 3:11Pursuing God takes effort and time which is why I usually pick sin over Him. I pray all the time that the Holy Spirit gives me a desire for spiritual things more than worldly things because I know I can’t choose God on my own. I need God to help me want to want Him. I have tried so many things to fill me up and make me feel like a better person. I have poured my energy into dieting, blogging, movies, friends, fashion, boys, shopping, beauty, books, school, sports, and social media, but none of those things do much for my heart. So, if all of earth is affected by the curse and there is no available cure, then how are we supposed approach life?
2. Ecclesiastes teaches that the proper response to the world’s emptiness is to understand it is not meant to be.
Realize that vanity is not what God intended for His people. This life is not how things are supposed to be. God wants us to be happy. Death is normal, but God doesn’t want us to die. The more we see the vanity of life, the more we can appreciate what Christ has done. He provided us with a way to enjoy life in the midst of the pain. Life is empty, but with Jesus we can navigate through its twists and turns with joy. God wants us to have fun! He wants us to do what we love! He wants us to pursue our dreams. As long as we fear God and obey His commands, we can let go and enjoy our favorite hobbies, movies, foods, holidays, people, talents, and songs! We don’t have to walk around with our head down or avoid the things that make us smile.
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do...Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10
3. Ecclesiastes teaches that the purpose of life is to know and enjoy God.
The happiest moments of my life have been during worship, Bible Study, Christian fellowship, prayer sessions, and simply when I feel closer to God than ever before. When I passionately pursue Christ, He gives me abundant joy and happiness. My heart is full and my circumstances do not dictate my mood. I am never disappointed because I have permanent hope. I am never cast down because I have unconditional joy. I am never afraid because I have everlasting peace. I am free from worry over the future and obsessing over people’s opinions of me. I can live in the moment and enjoy the now. I can do what my hands find to do with all my might. I can focus on what’s important which is my character.
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
If we rest in the place where our deep hunger meets His deep gladness then we can let go, live in the now, do what we love, and enjoy life.
☎︎
The Girl Next Door
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