Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:7 Beulah 5 August 2001
Also read: Galatians 5:16-26
A. Intro
Topsy turvy, confusing: Should we pursue pleasure? Work? Wisdom? Madness?
The Mesopotamian story
End of chapter 3, Qoheleth is despairing, putting man on level with beasts, forcing us to accept that, with the information at our disposal under the sun, we might as well just accept our lot, seize the day and enjoy ourselves as much as possible- Isaiah and Paul both echo this- "if the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (Isa 22:13, 1 Cor 15:32). Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero (Horace). Herrick- “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,/Old Time is still a-flying/And this same flower that smiles today/Tomorrow will be dying.” Alan K. Resurrection is all that stands between us and nihilistic (that is belief in nothing) hedonism (well it might as well be fun!).
And yet there are many things that prevent us from eking out this limited life in a pleasurable way... the seven deadly sins, in actual fact. Before we get onto that, though...
B. Words and promises (5:1-7)
1. Slow to
• speak (1-4,7)- GNB v 3- "The more you worry, the more likely you are to have bad dreams, and the more you talk, the more likely you are to say something foolish." Cf. James 1:19
• sacrifice (1)
• promise (2-6)- "a pocket full of mumbles such are promises" (Paul Simon)
• protest (6)
• dream (7)
2. Fast to
• listen (1)
• fulfil vows (4-6)
• fear God (2,7), cf. Eccl. 12:13
C. Seven Deadly Sins and Nine Noble virtues (4:1-14)
1. Wrath (Oppression) vs. Kindness and patience (v1-3)
• Taking up where he left off in 3:16
• Green Mile- John can feel pain, take some but not all- "couldn’t take it back"- girls are raped and murdered.
• Open Doors- “does our more cheerful outlook spring from hope or complacency” asks Kidner?
• Oppressors are comfortless too- "those that should have comforted them durst not, for fear of displeasing the oppressors and being made their companions for offering to be their comforters. It is sad to see so little humanity among men" (Henry). Yes Hitler, Pol Pot, Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great, Augustus Caesar and Stalin were incredibly powerful men who had the thrill of being to able to do whatever they wanted with people. But it’s my guess their very status made them unloved and lonely.
• Under the sun dilemma- cry, kill yourself. No life is better than this life. “I looked for comforters and found none” says the Psalmist in Psalm 69.
• The Son’s solution- cry out to God (Psalm 40), be sacrificed for others (1 Peter 3:18). This life is hard, but Jesus died to give us a new life, a better life to come, and rose and ascended so that His Comforter, the Holy Spirit could dwell with us (John 16:7).
2. Envy vs. Peace & Joy in others (v4)
• Only one of ten commandments based on thoughts- covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
• Capitalism- based on envy and the profit motive- keeping up with the Joneses. Competition drives us to efficiency- BMWs vs. Trabants!
• Envy and greed enrich us materially but robs us spiritually- the more stuff we have, the less of a person we are. "A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). We have no peace- “he that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver” (5:8).
• Even in Christian work- I go to more meetings than he does, I’ve read more of the Bible than she has. "All too much of our hard work and high endeavour is mixed with the craving to outshine or not to be outshone. Even in friendly rivalry this may play a larger part than we think- for we can bear to be outclassed some of the time and by some people, but not too regularly or too profoundly" (Kidner). FOOTBALL!
• Under the sun dilemma: the only way you can get people to work is through envy, so it’s a necessary part of economics, sport, relationships and life generally!
• The Son’s solution: do not become conceited (Gal 5:25- envy-pride), work for God out of gratitude and in expectation of heavenly reward (Eph 6:7,8). Prefer others above yourself (Phil 2:3). Be pleased with other’s success even more than your own- "if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it" (1 Cor 12:26). Cotton quote- "one finger envieth not another, that weareth a gold ring, as taking it for an ornament of the whole hand- yea of the whole body". Actually envy should act in such a way that people covet the relationship we have with God and each other for themselves- "salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious" (Romans 11:11). Pointless to be aggrieved that others have gifts we don’t as the wind (the spirit) blows where He likes (John 3:8) and is always just and fair.
3. Sloth/gluttony vs. Faithful diligence/self-control (v5-6)
• KJV- "eateth his own flesh". A dog’s life, says Henry, of hunger and ease. Idleness is its own punishment. Impressive excuses- wants a quiet life, does not want to attract envy by excelling! There’s a lion in the street!
• Under the sun dilemma- idleness or mania! “Disastrous opting out vs frantic rivalry.” Kids at school.
• Son’s solution- V6 either the sluggard’s excuse or a genuine recommendation of diligent moderation- the golden mean between idle sloth and grasping, envious greed. What does Jesus say? Matthew 25:26; work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2); good works , which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2). Martyn quote- “A despicable indulgence lying in bed gave me such a view of the softness of my character, that I resolved upon my knees to live a life of more self-denial. The tone and vigour of my mind rose rapidly. All those duties, from which I usually shrink, seemed recreations”.
4. Avarice vs. Goodness- generosity (v7-8)
• Ebenezer Scrooge- read page 2
• Under the sun dilemma- "This picture of lonely, pointless busyness, equally with that of jealous rivalry in vers 4, checks any excessive claims we might wish to make for the blessings of hard work" (Kidner). Neither idleness nor hard work seem to answer he frustration and futility of life.
• His task-orientatedness has completed excluded the very people whom he could help with his money, thus making his work purposeful and fulfilling!
• Son’s solution- abundance and generosity- John 10:10. 2 Cor 9:11- "you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on very occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." Though he was rich, for our sake he became poor.
5. Pride (Independence) vs. Loving and patientiInterdependence (v9-12)
• Under the sun dilemma- Scrooge’s avarice was connected to his pride, his desire to remain independent and aloof, for fear of letting someone in, making himself vulnerable or woundable. Page 2.
"I quit- I give up. Nothing’s good enough for anybody else, it seems, and being alone is the best way to be, when I’m by myself it’s the best way to be, when I’m alone it’s the best way to be, when I’m by myself nobdy else can say goodbye" (Edie Brickell).
• Also, Paul warns of possibly being distracted by domesticity when married- 1 Cor 7:28. "Henceforth he must consult another’s interest and convenience, listen to another’s reasoning, adjust to another’s pace and style, keep faith with another’s trust" (Kidner).
• Son’s solution: But it’s recommended. It’s not good for man to be alone- not just marriage, but other partnerships and friendships too, provided that they are equally yoked (2 Cor 6) so you are ploughing a straight line together!
• Benefit 1- Effectiveness- "Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one" (NLT).
• Benefit 2- Recovery service! Mutual pickup trucks!
• Benefit 3- Warmth and comfort- literal and figurative
• Benefit 4- Defence and strength against attack
• God in a relationship binds other two strands together- a twofold cord is too easily loosened, i.e. Christian marriages are between two sinners, but as long as God is central focus, there will be no divorce.
• Even God Himself is in relationship- the threefold cord of the Trinity- interdependent, loving, supportive, unified
6. Pride (Arrogance) vs. Gentleness or Humility (v13-16)
• Better to be poor and wise than rich and foolish. Old king (Saul?) problem was his unteachable spirit. Young pretender (David?) succeeds through his faithfulness and wisdom; for same reasons old king fails. But...
• Under the sun dilemma- it doesn’t matter how wise or foolish you are, as in the end everyone dies and is forgotten (2:12-16). The crowd support the young wise king, but soon get bored of him and want something new, hence the rebellions of Adonijah and Absalom.
• The Son’s solution- popularity with men isn’t important- the only thing that counts is to please God. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). Reward is eternal, lasting, in heaven- Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 10:34.
7. Lust (outward, temporary) vs Love, Gentleness & Faithfulness (inward, permanent) (7:26)
• Under the sun dilemma- easy women are attractive and give pleasure but are damaging long term- her lips drip honey but in the end she is as bitter as gall (Prov 5).
• Son’s solution- Proverbs 31- marry a woman for her virtue not for her charms. True beauty lies within- 1 Peter 3:4ff- "your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."
D. Conclusion
Wrath>> kindness and patience
Envy>> peace and joy in others
Sloth>> faithfulness
Gluttony>>self-control,
Avarice>>goodness,
Pride>>gentleness
Lust>>love
All well and good recommending certain positive qualities in preference to negative ones. But it’s one thing to believe something, another to actual enact it. Paul says, Romans 7:24, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" What carries the information from head to heart? "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).
The Spirit of Christ working in us…
Romans 8:11, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Colossians 1:29, "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
1 Thessalonians 5:24, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
Under the sun, it is all vanity of vanities, meaningless, meaningless, so very futile indeed. As Edie Brickell says, “Everything is temporary anyway…”
But the Son’s solution is to
• Do away with sin by dying so that we might die to sin and receive His righteousness
• Do away with death by rising so that we might live forever and all that is good may endure (2:26).
• Live IN us by His Spirit so that these sins that so easily entangle us- wrath, envy, sloth, gluttony, avarice, pride and lust- may be replaced by the fruit of His Spirit.
Do we trust God to make us like Him?
James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Matthew 7:11, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Romans 8:29, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Under the sun, life is a waste of time, and we’re better off dead. But above the sun, the Son’s solution is new life and peace in Him, with true freedom, the freedom which gives us the power to do what is right, and the hope that we can “stand in awe of God” (5:7) without fear of being destroyed, rather with the knowledge that we will be welcomed-
Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
“2 are better than 1…
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.”
Ecclesiastes 4 verses 9 and 10
