One or two?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Solomon is not only wise but also practical.  Have you ever worked alone?  Have you then worked with another ambitious person?  Much more is accomplished with 2 persons than each working by themselves.  The work is also done much more enjoyably.  A beautiful thought for a Christian is:  You never walk alone–what tremendous comfort that brings.

A time for everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  A time to be born and a time to dieA time to plant and a time to uprootA time to kill and a time to healA time to tear down and a time to buildA time to weep and a time to laughA time to mourn and a time to danceA time to scatter stones and a time to gather themA time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracingA time to search and a time give upA time to keep and a time to throw awayA time to tear and a time to mendA time to be silent and a time to speakA time to love and a time to hateA time for war and a time for peacev. 22–So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. We all have some time–what we do with our time is our personal choice–how do we constantly make wise use of our time?  Are we aware of our time?

frustration continues

Proverbs 2:18-19 “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.  And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?  Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun.  This too is meaningless.” Solomon is frustrated with the purpose of living.  A person works hard, accumulates, provides, instructs and produces with a heart full of effort.  And when his life comes to an end and inheritance results, who knows if his efforts are wasted?  What is the purpose of life?  That is Solomon’s frustrated question soon to be answered.

Much does not separate

Proverbs 2:10 “For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten.  Like the fool, the wise too must die.” Doesn’t it seem like the wise should receive special favor and rewards while on this earth as far as earthly wealth, a trouble-free life and possibly not even suffer death?  That way the entire world would recognize the tremendous advantages of being wise and faith filled.  But not so.  Everyone looks the same.  Then why be wise and God fearing?  Our answer will come soon.

Solomon’s theme continues

Ecclesiastes 2:11 “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” All that Solomon exposes is self-centered.  His purpose of living was to gain as much as possible — all to please himself.  And he accomplished the ultimate.  Pleasures, wealth, success—-all was his—yet he says his life was like chasing the uncatchable wind.  His purpose is to totally expose, by the time we conclude this book , what truly is important while also exposing what the world craves. Have a great weekend.