Ecclesiastes 6 "Emptiness Without God"

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men—a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction.” (vv.1-2)

Here in chapter 6, Solomon illustrates the emptiness of a life that has wealth and riches but does not include God. Two men are portrayed. The first is either a workaholic or a playboy. He is a quick success but is unhappy and dies with no heirs (vv.1-2). The second lives longer and has many children but is also unfulfilled and dies unloved (vv.3-6). The writer concluded that it is better not to have lived at all, than to be rich and famous but miserable!

The apostle Paul said that when we give God control of our lives, earthly blessings can be enjoyed, for He "gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). And when we use money to do good, we are using it for God's eternal purposes, and we "lay hold on the true life" (a literal translation of verse 19).

To be rich in God is better than to be rich in goods.

The Truth: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)

Ecclesiastes 5 “The Sleep of The Working Man"

“The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.” (v.12)

In a report that should surprise no one, the Better Sleep Council says Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. In the last twenty years, we have added 158 hours, nearly an entire month, to our yearly work schedules. Why? Because we want stuff, and yet, the more we make the less we seem to have? It’s the desire for more, and how we plan to manage our bills, that keeps us up at night.

Solomon’s observation in our text stands out as the sole positive point of this passage, "a hard day’s work yields a good night’s sleep, but the sheer accumulation of riches brings insomnia (v.12). He also makes it clear through the passage, that gaining real satisfaction and enjoyment from our work has nothing to do with what we have, but with what has us. Sure, money has its place, but as the wise man who wrote Ecclesiastes realized, those who love money will not be satisfied with it (5:10).

Therefore, work hard, and be thankfully satisfied with whatever the Lord gives, and you will not lay awake at night desiring more.

The Truth: “Come to Me, all who are weary and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Ecclesiastes 4 “Wealth, Power, Pass Away”

“Better a poor and wise youth, than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.” (v.1)

Here Solomon is speaking of himself. Like many of us, as a child Solomon sought after God, but later in life got his eyes off the LORD. He now is looking back near the end of his life and realizing the foolishness of his ways as king. Wealth, power, no longer matter, as he realizes people will soon admonish another after he is gone.

No matter how successful you are, when you step down, retire, or pass away, life will go on. Someone else will step into your position and do the work (eventually stepping down, retiring, or passing themselves). And with that; title, position, wealth, and influence, will pass as well.

The mature believer does not hold tightly to material things, but walks in the truth that, one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last. He lives in the reality of his own mortality and adopts a biblical perspective on God and eternity. He realizes there is no eternal value in the accumulation of wealth, nice homes or expensive cars, as these are only fuel for the great fire (2 Pet. 3:10-12; Rev. 21:1). This does not mean the believer cannot enjoy wealth if God gives it; he certainly can (Eccl. 3:12-13; 5:19-20; 9:9). But the mature believer, lays up his reward in heaven.

The Truth: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Ecclesiastes 3 “Seasons of Life”

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (v.3)

The song, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” made popular by The Byrds in the 1960’s, set portions of today’s reading to music. Because I grew-up in the 60’s, its hard not to hear their chorus in my mind as I read through Solomon’s.

Solomon is obvious saying everything in life has its time and season. Just as the seasons in nature change, so do the seasons in our lives. Sometimes we welcome change in our lives, but often it is difficult, especially when it involves sorrow and loss. Yet even then, we can be thankful that God does not change. “I am the Lord,” He said through the prophet Malachi, “I do not change” (Mal. 3:6).

Therefore, because God remains the same, we can rely on Him through the shifting seasons of life. His presence is always with us (Ps. 46:1), His peace has the power to guard our hearts (Phil. 4:7), and His love provides security for our souls (Rom. 8:39).

The Truth: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Psalm 49:1,11).

Ecclesiastes 2 “The Vanity of Pleasure”

“All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (vv.10-11)

Life does not have to be a futile, meaningless chasing after the wind, if we look to please God instead of ourselves. God's Word gives us a tremendous advantage in making that choice, because it shows us the results of each path. Self-indulgence is a dead-end, but living to please God produces wisdom, knowledge and happiness (v.26).

The desire for pleasure isn’t wrong, God has built us for it. Paul reminds us that God “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Other passages welcome us to the healthy pleasure of food, friends, and the intimacy of a marriage relationship. But thinking that we can find lasting pleasure in people and things is ultimately an empty pursuit.

Scripture tells us that, “Our God shall supply all our needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, Samuel 22:7), and that’s good enough for me.

The Truth: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

Ecclesiastes 1 "The Vanity of Life"

“The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (v.1)

For as long as people have walked the earth, they have searched for the meaning of life. What is our purpose? Why are we here? Two Old Testament books, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) pose that question—and provide two very different but complementary answers.

Ecclesiastes frames the answer by focusing on the mind. What is our reason for being? How can we understand our existence? When we study the Song of Songs, we will move from the mind to the heart. We are made to reason and think, but also to love and be loved.

Here in chapter 1 Solomon asks the question, “What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun” (v.3)? He describes life “under the sun” as our earthly existence, a monotonous cycle. People are born and then die. Even nature reflects this. Life is like a vapor: it cannot be contained and finally vanishes—almost like it never existed at all.

For those who believe that our earthly existence is all there is, life’s purpose is not easily apparent. Life under the sun can feel exhausting, as many search for fulfillment in experiences or in another person. Solomon had it all, everything anyone could ever want, yet he also had a great sense of emptiness, a void that could not be filled, even with all that he had. And, the further he moved from God, the emptier he began to feel.

Life really does boil down to two basic choices. We can live either to please ourselves or to please God. LORD help us all to stay close to you, to keep our eyes on you, to desire your work in our lives and not our own, that we might not be gasping at the wind.

The Truth: Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)

Luke 24 "Hope Restored"

^"He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" (Luke 24:6-7)

Luke 24 contains two themes throughout the chapter; 1) the fulfillment of Christ's teachings on His death, burial and resurrection and 2) the continued struggles His disciple had in seeing this truth as it was; predicted, unfolded, and completed before their every eyes.

After Jesus's death, His disciples were blinded by their grief, discouraged, lost, afraid, and did not see this event for what it was, the fulfillment of all that the prophets have spoken! They saw His death as the end of their Messiah and His kingdom here on earth, not reconciling it with what He had taught them. (Matthew 20:17-19)

It took the Lord Himself appearing to; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, to Peter, then the twelve collectively showing them His hands and His feet, eating with them and finally opening their understanding to the scriptures, before their blindness turned to joy and their hope restored. (v.45)  

Just as it took the infallible truth of the scriptures to open the eyes of those who walked with Jesus then, so it may be with our loved ones today as well. With so much evil in our world, we need to keep praying that our Lord will bring His truth into their lives and open their understanding to His love and grace.  

The Truth

Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19)

Luke 23 “Jesus Dies in Place of Barabbas”

“And he (Pilate) released to them (the chief priests) the one they requested (Barabbas), who for insurrection and murder had been thrown into prison; but delivered Jesus to their will” (v.25)

Here in chapter 23 we see Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and a murderer released by Pilate. And Jesus, a purely innocent man, delivered to a crowed who wanted to “crucify” Him. In other words Jesus was about to die in place of Barabbas or one could say, for Barabbas.

This is very interesting when you think about why Jesus had to die. According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Jesus would become the perfect sacrifice through His death on the cross. His innocent blood would become the only sacrifice needed for the remission of sin - once and for all.

Yes Jesus died in place of Barabbas but He also died for Barabbas and all sinners. Praise the LORD!.

The Truth: “But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)

Luke 22 “Peter Restored”

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you return to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (v.31-32)

The strength of our faith can be judged by our ability to regroup after a defeat. Setbacks can cause us to either fall away or to return to our faith even stronger. They allow us to show our underlying commitment to Christ. Our Lord's words to Simon Peter suggest this. Jesus knew Peter was about to trip over his own self-confidence and zeal. He knew that Peter, who said he was willing to die for his Lord (v.33), would soon deny Him.

The beauty of Christ's re­sponse to Peter's denial was that He saw beyond it, to the disciple's repentance. He assured Peter that He had prayed his faith would not fail (v.32). In essence, Jesus was saying, "An attack is coming, I have prayed for you, although you will stumble, you will return to Me." This experience in Peter's life can encourage all of us. We have the advantage of Christ's work and prayers on our behalf, and this gives us the confidence that He Himself sustains us. We too can be useful again to Him, even after a hard fall.

A spiritual reversal should not cause us to give up. It's the "return" of our faith and His forgiveness that are all-important.

The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Luke 21 "The Signs of His Return"

“There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and the expectation of those things which are coming upon the earth: for the powers of the heaven will be shaken. And they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your head; for your redemption is drawing close” (vv.25-28).

In our text, Jesus is giving us the signs of His return. Signs that will happen before His second coming. Then, at the end of the passage, declares when we see these things come to pass to “look up”, for our redemption (the rapture) is drawing near. If the rapture of the church is to precede His second coming (and I believe it does), then when we see these signs of the LORD’s return, we can know the rapture must be getting close.

The parable of the fig tree, given to us here in verses 29-33, is basically saying the same thing. When you see the tree begin to blossom you know summer is drawing near. Again we are being instructed to know the signs of His return, to be watchful and, “pray that we are accounted worthy to escape what is to come and stand before the Son of man” (v.36).

I for one do not want to be on earth when God’s wrath is poured out. I want to be standing before the Son of man, the Lamb who was slain, the One who is worthy to take the scroll and loose the seals, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, removed from His wrath.

The Truth: “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17)

Luke 20 “Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes?”

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (v.22)

Once again the chief priests and scribes were looking to discredit Jesus. This time, they were trying to catch Him saying something against Roman law that they might turn Him over to the governor. Thus the question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

The crafty spies who; were sent by the priests, pretended to be righteous, and hoping to seize Christ on His words, marveled at His answer: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (v.25)

Many issues in our society today have become twisted to man’s desires through; political agendas, party politics, and what is viewed today as politically correct thinking. However, for us as Christians it is simple, man’s law should never supersede God’s law. Therefore, as Christ said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

The Truth
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

Luke 19 “Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem”

“As He drew near, He saw the city (Jerusalem) and wept over it.” (v.41)

Our text tells us as Jesus drew near to the city of Jerusalem "He wept.” Why? because the people did not know the scriptures well enough to understand the reason for His first coming (v.41-44), and those who did (scribes, chief priests Pharisees) sought to kill Him out of fear and jealousy.

The prophet Zechariah had described the 1st coming of Jesus over 500 years before it occurred writing, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).

Zechariah correctly refered to Jesus as, "having salvation." Therefore, when Jesus did enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, as prophesied, the people cried, "Hosanna!" or, literally, "Save now!" (Matthew 21:9). Why? because they were hoping Jesus had come to save them from the Roman government and establish His kingdom on earth imediately. Not to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

Therefore, when He was eventually killed, the Jews denied His claim as the Messiah, and are still blindly looking for their deliver today. They missed it (His first coming). This is what moved Jesus to tears, "because they did not know the time of their visition” (v.44). I believe He still weeps today when someone rejects His moment of visitation to them. Why? because His second coming will be much different, and when that happens, He will no longer be the one weeping.

The Truth: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)

Luke 18 “Be Merciful To Me”

“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (v.13)

May we all check our attitudes at the door of humility, that we may be exalted by the LORD and not abased (v.14). May we all bow before the LORD in repentance, beating our chests, saying “be merciful to me, a sinner” and not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought” (vv.12-13).

As pride always comes before a fall, so a haughty spirit comes before stumbling. The moment we think we're good, we're not. The moment we think, we've got it all together, we don't. Better to come to God in humility and brokenness to receive His righteousness, than to come to Him as a filthy rag in your own (righteousness).

The Truth
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Luke 17 "Wow to Those Who Stumble His"

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So watch yourselves." (v.1-3)

It appears that Jesus was directing this warning at the religious leaders who taught their converts their own hypocritical ways. Human nature being what it is, there will always be occasions that can cause us to stumble. However, Jesus makes it plain that it is a serious thing to cause a fellow believer to stumble or to tempt them to sin.

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 8 to be sensitive to others, as our actions may inadvertently cause a weaker brother to stumble when we are taking our own liberty. He warns us to beware lest someone see our liberty and it becomes a stumbling block to them.

Therefore, we should lovingly watch over each other, learn to understand each other's weaknesses and do all that we can to keep one another from stumbling into sin.

 The Truth
“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:7)

Luke 16 "The Afterlife"

Luke 16 “The After Life”

“So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (vv.22-23)

This parable of “Lazarus and the Rich Man” is a shockingly clear picture of life after death in Old Testament times. Before the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection those who died beliving in God were comforted, while those who did not believe in God were tormented.  After His resurrection all believers are, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “absent from the body and . . . present with the Lord.” Jesus wanted those listening to His parable to understand the serious consequences of living life apart from God.

The rich man and the poor man (Lazarus) lived very different lives on earth, and even when they died, they no doubt received very different types of burials. But neither man was able to escape death, because that great equalizer is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old, black or white, American, European, Asian, or African—death comes to all. It will happen to you and it will happen to me.

However, for those who have trusted in and surrendered to Jesus Christ, there is a wonder-filled promise of being instantly present with the Lord after our death. The only questions are, in what do you place your trust? And, would you bet your eternal life on it?

The Truth:  When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Then He will say to those on His left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. . . .  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Luke 15 “Angels Rejoice”

“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (v.10)

Here in chapter 15, Jesus is demonstrating to the Pharisees that it was not only right for Him to seek the lost, but their restoration pleased God. The Pharisees considered “tax collectors” and "sinners" beneath them, and questioned His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). Jesus overhearing them responded, “Those who are well have no need for a physician” (Matther 9:12).

Seeking the lost, and restoring them to God was not only a major theme throughout the book of Luke, but of His (Jesus) ministry as well. What a contrast to the Pharisees' attitude of completely avoiding sinners, and caring little to nothing about their spiritual resotation.

May our hearts be aligned with our Lord’s in compassion and love for those who need Jesus. May we see that, “the harvest is truly plentiful” and never grow weary of sharing the good news, so that angles in heaven may rejoice.

The Truth: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Luke 14 “Take A Back Seat”

"When a person invites you to a wedding, don't sit in the most important seat. The person may have invited someone more important than you. And if you are sitting in the most important seat, then the person that invited you will come to you and say, 'Give this man your seat!' Then you will begin to move down to the last place. And you will be very embarrassed. Therefore, when a person invites you, go sit in the seat that is not important. Then the person that invited you will come to you and say, 'Friend, move up here to this better place!' What an honor this will be for you in front of all the other guests! (vv.8-10)

Jesus wants us to give up on our self-promoting ways. He calls us to be humble and then let God do the exalting. We shouldn't be surprised when the apostle Paul held Jesus up as the perfect example of humility—didn't cling to position, emptied himself of self-promotion, was obedient to God the Father even unto death, and God exalted Him at the proper time (Phil. 2:5-11).

Pride is destructive, selfish, and poisonous to Christian service and maturity. Let's humble ourselves before God and trust that He will lift us up.

The Truth: "For whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:11)

Luke 13 “To What is the Kingdom of God Like?

“It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.” (v.19)

This simile, "As small as a grain of mustard seed" was well known in the Jewish world, and was a proverb among the people in those days. It was a common sight to see a mustard plant (raised from one of these minute grains) grow to the height of a fruit tree, putting forth branches on which birds build their nests.

It was with sorrowful irony that Jesus compared the kingdom of God in those days to this small grain. But, at that time, it was composed of Jesus and his few wavering followers. It seemed impossible that this little movement could ever stir the world, let alone still exist today.

However, it grew outwardly into a great tree in which we now see; the spread of the Gospel world wide and the growth of grace in the hearts of millions of believers everywhere. Yet the fulness of the gentiles has yet to come to harvest. Therefore, the tree continues to grow.

Will this growth ever stop?  No, as Isaiah wrote, “Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7). 

This tiny “seed” will never stop growing and when the King of this Kingdom comes to rule in power on earth, it will apparently continue to grow.

The Truth: “I will plant it (His Kingdom) on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.” (Ezekiel 17:23)