How God Sees Us

INTRO

Whenever I study the book of Ecclesiastes, I put one word in front of it: “ponder.” I think there is so much in Ecclesiastes that we are supposed to question “why and how.” I approach it through equations, usually to answer “why.” I ask myself if I agree with it. I consider whether or not I see where the author is coming from.

TEACHING

Ecclesiastes 7:1-6: This chapter begins with a reality check: what is best for life compared to what is enjoyable? Verse 1 contrasts the importance of having a good name to having wealth and the day of death being better than the day of birth. Life is our very breath, one after another. We do not think about each breath we take, but without each breath, we could not live or accomplish anything. Verses 2–3 point out that as we experience grief and hardship in life, we grow and mature. One brings about the other. What we learn in our sorrow is better and has a more lasting effect than what we learn while laughing. The times when I have learned to walk with God the best is not when life was easy and fun, but when I was walking through the hard places. The lessons of life do not always come from the good, but from the hard (vv. 4–6).

Ecclesiastes 7:7: Why does oppression make a wise man mad (v. 7a)? A wise man would typically have had a plan—a beginning, a process, and an end. To face oppression would divert the wise man’s efforts—take him away from his plan. Why does a gift destroy the heart (v. 7b)? This speaks to people in a position of authority whose opinion can be swayed. This person can be flattered and can be catered to. Men must have accountability and not flattery. We are currently experiencing this in politics because money (gifts) can corrupt. This is the human experience, but we do not have to be swayed by that. Our release from this is our eternal perspective.

Ecclesiastes 7:8: Why is the end of something better than the beginning (v. 8a)? How many times in this life do we have a great idea that is never fulfilled? How many times have people tried to do something unsuccessfully? The point is that what is best is the big idea that has been fulfilled (the end). At the end of life, the fulfillment is to be able to say life was well-lived. Those who are patient in waiting for the Holy Spirit are better than those who are proud and move before the Holy Spirit moves (v. 8b). The patient say, “let it come in its own time” and the proud say, “it must be done now” (Romans 8:28).

Ecclesiastes 7:9–10: In the face of oppression or injustice, Solomon warned not to be hasty in becoming angry, “for anger abides in the heart of fools” (v. 9b). I always attach anger to ownership. Anger defends something—me, my territory, my reputation—because I have the right to defend these parts of me. But if we believe that God is the owner and the defender, we are to bless those who misuse or mistreat us. Do not ask why it was better in the “good old days” (v.10). The “good old days” were just the days that came before.

Ecclesiastes 7:11–12: Wisdom comes from God. Wisdom is our protection that preserves our lives. We have to determine how to make sense of these days and work within them.

Ecclesiastes 7:13–15: The path of life is crooked, but God can make it straight (v.13). We are to be joyful even as we know that the day of adversity is coming. There are good people who die young, and there are wicked people who live long lives (v.15). This is a ponder moment, it seems unfair. We should ask God to teach us wisdom; He is not afraid of our questions. We should ponder the way of man and we should ponder the way of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:19–22: Wisdom makes us strong (v.19). Someone who is wise can be better than many warriors because they have figured out a strategy in how to accomplish something instead of just rushing. There is no one on earth who is only good and never sins (v.20). Do not pay attention to what others say, but pay attention to what you say. Do not put too much value in other’s opinions because it is easy to be critical when you do not have the correct perspective.

Ecclesiastes 7:29: God has made man to be upright and righteous, but humankind has instead pursued many schemes or devises. This is why Ecclesiastes 7 is a reality check of how we think.

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12: First Corinthians 1:26–28 relates to verse 11. Ecclesiastes gives us the practical way to look at things—we do not have to be overqualified, over-skilled, or overly rich for God to use us. What we can do does not bring us to God. It is in our weaknesses that God chooses to use us—even under-qualified, under-skilled, and poor.

CLOSING

We should put ourselves in these chapters and ask ourselves, am I overtaken in a human experience? Am I looking at my life through the things that have been, and are disqualifying what is ahead of me, because of where I have been? Am I limiting myself by my qualifications? Am I letting other’s put their expectations on me or allowing something someone said to diminish me? Ecclesiastes instructs us to not consider those things and to not let that be the mantra of our lives. Instead, we should walk in the confidence that God will use, qualify, and bring us into a place of fulfillment. Let Him be the one who writes our story.