Thursday, November 29, 2018

Year 8, Day 333: Ecclesiastes 3


Theological Commentary: Click Here



In Ecclesiastes 3 we can hear much of the same tone as was discovered last chapter.  Everything that is done is done best when it is partnered with God.  Toiling is best done when we toil for God.  Being joyful about our toil is accomplished when we focus on the Lord.  If we are looking for fulfillment, look first to the Lord and then go out and do.



Look at the opening set of verses for a deeper perspective on fulfillment.  Naturally, this is one of the most famous sections of scripture thanks to the Byrds.  There is a time for everything, of course.  Everything has its season.  There is more to this set of verses, though.  So often we like to think the God is in the good and Satan is in the evil.  That’s not nearly deep enough.  God is in everything.  When there is birth, God is there.  But when there is death, God is still there!  When things are being built up, God is there.  God is still there when things are being torn down and ripped apart, too!



It’s easy to see God in the fun places.  It’s easy to see God in the places of joy, happiness, and pleasure.  God is in the dark places, too.  When we stumble and fall, God is there to pick us up.  When the winter seasons come in life, God is there to carry us through and remind us that spring will come again.  There is a season for everything, but God is still a part of it all.



This thought brings light to the last paragraph in this chapter.  Everyone will go to the same end.  Everything that has known life will also know death.  Human beings will know life and death.  Animals also know life and death.  Even plants know life and death.  If this is our perspective, it is hard to have hope!  But when we remember that God is a part of it all, we can have hope.  On our own, the last thing that we will know will be death.  With God, though, our ending changes.  With God, the last thing that we known will be life – and life eternal at that!



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