A couple weeks ago, a man approached me. Seeing my Bible, he exclaimed, "Are you a Christian?!" I told him I was and he began to ask me why, telling me that there were better things I could do with my life. After I learned that he was only joking, he told me his life story in about 45 minutes and I hung on every word. In the end, he told me to read Ecclesiastes. Through his tears, he said it would change my life. So, I read it.
Solomon writes this book near the end of his life. Most of the book has a rather negative tone and his two favorite phrases seem to be "Everything is meaningless" and "This is like chasing after the wind" (which is also meaningless). Every so often, Solomon says something to the effect of, "therefore, don't waste time. Enjoy life as much as you can."
In these little sections where he deviates from his negative tone, he tells the reader to enjoy life, take risks, be glad, and chase after the things of heaven.
Many verses in this book sort of hit me where I'm at now that I'm in my first career-related job. Here are a few..
So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.
- Ecclesiates 3:22
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat, drink, and be glad.
- Ecclesiastes 8:15
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
- Ecclesiastes 11:4
..Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgement. So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether is is good or evil.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
It's clear that the thrust of Solomon's message is that life is not about anything except following your God-given desires. This book helped me to really grasp the picture of how we're to live. I can only do something with all my might (9:10) if I thoroughly enjoy what I do (3:22). This also means I will be happy and therefore, I need to make sure I'm following the desires of my heart (11:9).
Maybe it seems trivial, but I needed this moment of clarity for where I'm at in life. This mindset helps me make life decisions. It gives me a lense to look through. It's not realistic to think that a person will be happy all the time in the things they pursue. There may even be stretches of very unpleasant events. However, at the end of the day and at the end of my life, I'll be most satisfied if I sought after the good desires of my heart.
Emphasis on the GOOD. Solomon's conclusion is that we're to fear God and keep his commandments. I don't think we're to actually be afraid of him like we're afraid of monsters in the closet when we're young, but rather, revere him. Do what he says, not out of fear, but out of reverance for him. Dictionary.com describes revere as meaning "an attitude of deep respect tinged with awe." This is a great description of how to think of and interact with God.
I also think its worth mentioning that the last phrase in the book states that God will "bring every deed into judgement, whether it is good or evil." Contradiction? I think not. The desires of my heart are both good and bad. Solomon isn't telling me to follow EVERY desire of my heart. I know that there are things my heart desires that I should not persue. Solomon is telling me to follow the desires of my heart which also coincide with God's character.
