Jump Start # 3264

Ecclesiastes 2:17 “So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.”

We have fired up our Deeper Bible studies once more. This is something we do with the congregation I’m with. It’s part of our system of groups. Folks sign up and I teach. This class meets twice on Tuesdays, morning and evening. And, this round of studies we are looking at Ecclesiastes. Everyone has their own Ecclesiastes journal in which they can write their own notes in.

Ecclesiastes is a tough book to begin. Lots of question. Tradition tells us that Solomon wrote this, but there are some problems with that. There is no clear and absolute answer. If Solomon did write this, when did this fit in his life. Historically, it sure seems that his life fell apart at the end. Then, there is the flow of Ecclesiastes. Some picture it as a dark, depressing journal of a man who can’t find the answer to “What’s the point?” Others, make it very hopeful and encouraging. That horizontal view, “life under the sun” sure has a lot to do with understanding this book.

Throughout Ecclesiastes, observations are made. Statements such as, “I saw” are repeated often. And, from observations, perspectives and conclusions are made. Thus our verse today. What a sad statement, “I hated life.” Sounds like a teenager who just got grounded, not the son of David who was blessed with wisdom. Yet, our verse must be balanced by the number of times Solomon says, “enjoy life.”

And, those thoughts help us to think about perspective. The right lens you look at life through makes all the difference.

First, some only see life through their own eyeballs. Everything is based upon what it means to me. Me becomes the focal point. My happiness. My value. What do I get out of it. There are some who even look at worship this way. “I don’t get anything out of church,” is a statement made from a selfish perspective. “I don’t like that hymn,” or, “I don’t like the way that guy leads a prayer.” Everything is wrapped around self.

Second, our perspectives can change. That’s a good thing, a very good thing. We don’t come into this world with a heavenly perspective. As newborns, we are only interested in food and clean diapers. That’s it. That’s our world. We cry without any consideration as to where we are or what time of day it is or how tired our parents are. But as we grow, that changes. It especially changes when one comes to Christ. The golden rule, seeking the kingdom first, having the mind of Christ, changes our thinking. Instead of seeing things only through our eyeballs, we see things from God’s point of view. A cup of cold water, insignificant as it is, is meaningful to Heaven. Consequences matter. What and how we say things matter. Even our value system and definitions change when we come to Christ. Success defined by the world is based upon the brands you wear, the type of car you drive, the square footage of your house, what neighborhood that house is in, what school you attended and how much wealth you have. In Christ, character, integrity, having a heart of a servant is what catches the eye of the Lord. It doesn’t matter where you live. It’s not what you have, but what has you.

Third, as our perspectives change towards Heaven, we notice that things that we were once obsessed with, no longer moves the needle in our hearts. I saw a young guy zipping through a parking lot the other day with a bright yellow sports car. There was a time in my life I would have thought, “How can he afford that, and I can’t?” Not anymore. My first thought was, “I wonder how much he’s paying for insurance?” Then, “he sure can’t put much in that car.” Perspective changes. I’m pretty certain that I am going to exit this planet without ever owning a bright yellow sports car. Do I feel cheated? Do I feel empty? Not at all. We have a brother in our church who collects money to help Christians in Africa. I’d much rather do that than have a yellow car. The heavenly perspective changes us. I’d much rather sit in an assembly of Christians and sing hymns for an hour than sit in a theatre watching a movie that last no lasting value.

When one stays with Ecclesiastes, he realizes that Solomon wasn’t in the dumps. He wasn’t suicidal. He didn’t even hate life, as our passage states. Life under the sun doesn’t offer much. There is little to hope for when one has a horizontal view of life. You work all your life and then you die. Your dog at home has it better than you do. You feed him. You take care of him. All he does is wag his tail and sleep most of the day. In the end, both you and the dog die. You have killed yourself with stress and hard work only to leave all of this stuff to someone else. That’s horizontal living. That’s life under the sun. But with a vertical view, life ABOVE the sun, things change. We work so we can glorify God. We are blessed so we can bless others. There is a purpose other than sleeping and eating. Under the sun, we miss that. Under the sun we can’t see that. But it’s ABOVE the sun that we get that right perspective.

I’ve known brethren who have worshipped God for six to seven decades of their lives. Can you imagine how many hymns they sung? How many times have they taken the Lord’s Supper? How many sermons have they listened to? And, what did it do for them? It gave them hope, assurance, forgiveness and that Heavenly perspective. They faced death, not with fear, but with hope. They walked with the Lord. They loved the Lord and He loved them.

Life under the sun stinks. But life above the sun is glorious and brilliant. It’s all about perspective.

Roger

Jump Start # 3263

Ecclesiastes 9:1 “For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.”

The book of Ecclesiastes is about observations. The chapter before our verse today, finds Solomon saying, “All this I have seen” (8:9). When I gave my heart to know wisdom (8:16). I saw every work of God (8:17). And that leads to our verse today, “For I have taken all this to my heart.”

Observing, reflecting, contemplating. That’s what Solomon was doing. He saw things. He thought about things. He made conclusion about those things. And, that is a helpful exercise for us.  We ought to do that towards Scriptures. We ought to do that towards nature. We ought to do that towards one another. Lessons learned. Insight gained. Depth. Perspectives. Discernment. Observation. Reflection. Contemplate. Think.

For I have taken all this to my heart. Consider:

First, the nature of worldliness and sin is shallow, superficial and without much contemplation. We lower ourselves to the level of an animal who operates on instinct rather than reason, when we follow the call of Satan. Words are uttered without any thought about how they may be received or how hurtful they may be. Choices are made without any thought to the consequences. In the moment, is all that the man of the world thinks about. Passion and pleasure are what drive such a person. Shallow, lacking depth, the man of the world is truly empty.

Second, all around us, nearly every day, there are great lessons that will help build our character, influence our hearts for good, and be reminders of God’s love for us. The song bird in the morning, most hardly notice, but a sweet sound that welcomes a new day. A sunrise, a sunset, a rainbow,  common events, easily passed by the man of the world, but noticed by the disciple of God. In Matthew, Jesus says, it is “His sun that He causes to shine.” Lessons as we drive. Lessons as we go outside. Lessons as we see each other.

One of the most common questions I’m asked about these Jump Starts are, “How do you see all those things you write about from those verses.” It’s not magic. It’s not something unique to me. Your Bible reads the same as my Bible. It’s slowing down as you read. It’s having an observant mindset. It’s looking at each word.

For instance, you are driving down the highway, and you notice a sign on a post, “Jesus saves.” You might not think a thing about it. You might comment about graffiti. Or, your mind may take you to the saving grace of our Lord. A reminder. Around my place I’m starting to see little green life popping up out of the ground. Ignore it. Say, “Springs coming.” Or, think of the resurrection, out of the deadness of winter, comes life.  Everywhere, all the time, the spiritual radar is on. Always thinking spiritually. Always observing. Those are the ways that lessons can be learned.

Third, engage in conversations of depth. This is one reason I really like Bible classes. It’s an opportunity to lower the nets and get into some real conversations of substance. It’s sharing spiritual insights. But this doesn’t only happen in a Bible class. It can be done with a group of friends from the congregation. The shallow talk about the weather, politics, sports  doesn’t add much value to our lives. But, when we say, “Have you ever thought about…” Or, “Here is a question that I have been thinking about…” Engaged. Depth. Spiritual. Growth. You’ll find most co-workers don’t think that way. Many in the family don’t think that way. But find that disciple of Jesus and what a rich, rich conversation you can have.

Fourth, worship is one of the best places to take things to your heart. The songs. The prayers. The preaching. The fellowship. If one pours his soul into worship, you ought to feel both tired and refreshed. It’s an amazing experience. Tired, because you have put so much thought into what you are doing. Yet, refreshed because of how it lifts your soul and brings you closer to the Lord.

When one takes things to his heart, he’ll learn. He will make adjustments in his life. He will remember. He will be a better person. The lessons are there. Everywhere. Brushing your teeth, be thinking, “Lord, cleanse my heart and my insides as I am cleansing my teeth.” As you take a bite of food, “Thank you Lord for the farmer who grew this food and for Your blessings that allow me to be able to buy that food.”

Insights. Observations. Discernment. Taking it to your heart. It’s a journey, once you start, that you will never regret and never see things the same again.

I have taken all of this to my heart…

Roger