Theme: Destiny of All
Text: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
Greetings: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you all in the name of our Lord saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord is good, and his love endures forever.
We learned under the themes: the purpose of creation of human life; the purpose of the election of Abraham.
Today, we meditate on the theme: Destiny of All, based on Ecclesiastes 9:1-10. I like to leave with you three important things from this passage on how we need to live on the earth as long as we live:
· Live with Caution
· Live without Compromise, and
· Live with Consecration
Introduction to the Book and the author: Ecclesiastes means a member of an Assembly. His duty was to recite. Preacher (Kohelet) introduced several proverbial sayings, all of which encourage activity. The preacher tested, tasted and understood the bitterness and vanity of life. He searched to know the meaning of life, and at the end of the research, he concludes and comments everything is vanity. The author represents himself as the Son of David and King over Israel in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 1:1,12,16, 2:7,9).
1. Live with Caution (Ecclesiastes 9:1-3)
Life on earth seems to be useless, full of vanity. But we believe in the existence of God, followers of Jesus Christ must live with caution. We cannot live a life of carelessness, worthlessness, and aimlessness. We have the good news of Salvation through Jesus Christ and the unshakable hope of eternity in Christ. Therefore we must live our lives with caution. Be careful to think of God think of your neighbours and people around you.
We live with confrontations of good and evil. Life challenges are the same for everyone on the earth. Whether rich or poor, educated or illiterate, male or female, and LGBTQIA+ feels the same life pressures and challenges. All our reaching to the wealth, health, honour, wisdom, learning, fame and reputation. All the institutions function the same manner whether they have established for the advancement of spirituality or secular values people behave alike with spiritual identity or secular identity.
There is an apparent confusion, deception in understanding the work of God. The earthly lives of people do not show whether they have approval from God or not. Because the events in livelihood, as well as death, seems to be the same. Of course, death is imminent in every life. This knowledge helps to learn and handle even the most tragic moment of human life. Our sufferings in life are educational, doxological, revelational, and sacrificial (Isaiah 53:1-12) (ref: gracechurchmentor.org).
We must be aware of and sure that God will not suspend or alter the general laws, to favour individual cases. Nor does God designed such approbation or disapprobation found by any of these occurrences (ref: studylight.org/Adam Clark). However, God does alter and change the general laws for an individual in few cases. Such a person to escape and bring glory to God.
All are the same in the sight of God. Though the destiny of all looks alike, there is a difference between destiny and end. Some work for their eternal life with God and others for their eternal separation from God, known as hell. These verses talk about the death and end of human life. The mystery is hidden from our physical eyes.
Matthew Henry Comments: “Men are happy or miserable according to as they are under the love or hatred of God, but not according as they are under the smiles or scowls of the world; God loves a righteous man. So he is happy, though the world frowns upon him; God hates a wicked man, so he is miserable, though the world smiles upon him.”
However, it is good to see the righteous, the wise, and their conduct is all in the hand of God, protected by his power, and they are safe in his approbation. The grand truth stated here is that God is in control. Everything that occurs happens under the permissive will of God. His special protection (Deuteronomy 33:3 ff) to righteousness and His direction (Proverbs 21:1) to people. Solomon compromised for his gains and repented from those wickedness and cautioned his writers about the end of unrepented life.
Men in Christ live soberly, righteously, and godly. They are wise unto salvation and are concerned for the truth of grace. They are under the special care of divine Providence, they receive from the hand of God what is needful and proper for them, and they are preserved and protected by him (1 Timothy 4:8). The works and affairs of events relating to men are appointed ordered directed by the hand of God, and all for their benefit (John Gill). Therefore live with caution and without compromise. So, now we will see how to live without compromise.
2. Live without compromise (Ecclesiastes 9:4-6)
The preacher coined a proverbial statement that the living dog is better than a dead lion. Here he would like to remind us to reminisce the importance of the present status, respectful act, position than what we were in our yesteryears. The past glories lose their significance if it does not relevantly utilise, interpreted, and made use of in the present life situations (V. 5).
Collins Dictionary defines compromise as, ‘A compromise is a situation in which we accept something slightly different from what we want, because of circumstances or because we are considering the wishes of other people’. Further, it says that ‘if someone compromises themselves or compromises their beliefs, they do something which damages their reputation for honesty, loyalty, or high moral principles’(ref:dictionary.reverso.net).
Coffman writes about Solomon that he was a man greatly loved by the Lord, endowed with great wisdom, prayed a magnificent prayer at the dedication of Jerusalem Temple, the most honoured and glorified person in the whole history of Israel. However, the magnitude of his wickedness was immeasurable. But his conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 affirms that Solomon finally came to his senses and returned to the love and service of God (ref: studylight.org).
As long as we live on the earth, we must live without compromising spirit and attitude. The love envy is temporary and relevant to this life. Nothing could continue for eternity, Nothing we could carry with us (V. 6).
‘Living a life without compromise is willingly turning yourself into the biggest, most obnoxious, inflexible, entitled asshole in the history of humanity(ref:quora.com).
It is an impossible task on the earth. The decision lies with all of us. We are constantly faced and fight with principles and concepts which are against one another. Yet, we need to weigh with the scale of the Bible. J Thomas says, “Do what is right. Be valiant for the truth. Teach it without compromise, and all lovers of the truth will approve you; for all others, you need not care a rush.” (Ref:askideas.com/J Thomas)
According to Joyce Meyer: compromise indicates you go a little bit below what you know is right. Bible never encourages or approves of it in any situation. We can easily justify decisions to compromise while we are tempted or pressured by circumstances that are hard for us to face or overcome. I want to encourage you to resist the temptation to compromise and make up your mind to do always what is right in God's eyes. (ref:christianpost. com/Joyce Meyer).
Our attitudes drive our actions. Compromise on what we believe may help to survive and succeed in the short term. But soon, it will expose the hypocrisy. Psalm 119:3 says, ‘they do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. So life lived without compromise means a life lived with consecration.
3. Live with consecration (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)
The preacher moves on to talk about the joyous moments in human life, such as festive occasions and marital relations, and daily work in life. God has instituted human society, and he wants people to enjoy them all (7-10). Solomon recommends enjoying various desires of earthly life: A desire to enjoy food. A desire to enjoy family (Proverbs 18:22).
Preacher tells the uncertainties of this life and the certainty of death, so enjoy the life. Enjoyment interweaved with responsibilities. These responsibilities are of the moral worldly and also of the spiritual. So, the Kohelet suggests that we must live a consecrated life.
Holiness ought to be practised even in our eating habits. We should take all precautions in eating and drinking habits. It is decisive to keep ourselves away from all that spoils our body, mind, emotion, and finally the eternity (v. 7). However, eat happily, leisurely, and gracefully all that is approved of God (Proverbs 15:17, 17:1).
Enjoy your spouse, be happy with children whom God has blessed with love, grace, respect and honour your parents, in-laws with the same care and concern (V. 9). First, it involves our roles in life as a parent, sibling and cousin and in-law(Exodus 20:12).
Secondly, it involves spiritual acts of loving God, loving His Word, loving one another, and pursuing the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in our life followed by our job, relationships, and family. Enjoy sexual life with integrity (Hebrews 13:4). Show godliness in raising the children and taking care of the elders(Proverbs 22:6, 29:15).
A desire to enjoy the profession with its glories and positions is good. But the challenge to enjoy either in a sacred manner or in lustful, cheating, and fraudulent methods. So, ‘Do not vex and perplex yourselves with the dispensations and mysteries of Providence; enjoy the blessings which God has given you, and live to his glory; and then God will accept your works’ (Adam Clark).
God demands holiness with integrity and faithfulness in our professional ethics. Remember to do your profession with commitment and with stewardship. The duties and responsibilities are about worldly life and existential needs. Yet, we are accountable to one another and God (V. 10).
Solomon even touches the dressing sense and style. They dress modestly as an honourable person. Let your garments be white means and refer to holiness, cleanliness and decency. He also touches the hairstyle for men and women according to the scriptures. Anoint with oil means live with humility and admiration (V. 8). God has given the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).
Targum says, "let thy garments be white (or washed) from all filth of sin or be without any spot of sin.” Garments of the saints are made white in the blood of Christ, and his righteousness is fine linen, and white and even eternal glory and happiness signified by walking with him in white (Revelation 7:14).
Then Solomon mentions anointing the head with oil (Psalms 23:5). Jesus told his followers to put oil on their head while they fast and pray (Matthew 6:17). David sings the Lord has given him the oil of joy, and gladness against the joy of his enemies (Psalms 45:7). The preachers say that a good name is better than ointment (Ecclesiastes 7:1).
The Targum says: "Acquire a good name, which is likened to the oil of anointing, that blessings may be called down up thy head, and goodness not forsakes thee."
Conclusion: The preacher revealed, in Ecclesiastes 11:9, there is a day of judgment for every deed. Though, all share the same life circumstances, destiny on the earth. But not the same new life and eternity. Good men advised to live cheerfully to acceptance with God, both of persons and services; and eat and drink, and clothe well, according to their circumstances, and enjoy their friends and families (John Gill).
But the reality is even after knowing the uncertainties of life, and we try to live as if we would not die. Indeed, death is not a defeat or end of life but a fleet transition to reward. It should motivate us to be busy with things that matter in eternity! Amen.
