Ecclesiastes 7 – 8
Verse 7:5 gives us some great advice:
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise
than to hear the song of fools.
How often do we get criticized over almost anything we do? How often do we actually listen to that criticism? Often times we reject any form of critique on what we do because of pride, we really need to reflect on that. One of the greatest problems to man today is the inflexible mindset we tend to get into. Instead of finding a solution to a problem we are more concerned in making sure we win with our idea.
Hey it may be the best idea in the world, but unless we can communicate that to someone without blowing our tops it’s worthless. The art to getting things done is not leading without compromise, but to lead towards the best solution. That is where the wise come in and thrive. If we set aside our pride and listen to them, we will learn how to “just get along.”
Verse 7:15 is one of those verses I think we all have experienced:
In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
We read our Bibles every day, read it through a few times even. We go to church any time the doors are open and teaching is happening. We work hard with amazing ethics, yet our friend who doesn’t believe in God drives up in his new Porsche after selling a company he built up that in essence loots pension funds. We all have that buddy that cannot fail and seems to have it all, while openly calling you a fool for following this “God” that no one has ever seen.
Does that mean quit and follow him? No, we are all on this earth for a short time. Remember the story of the beggar (Lazarus) and the rich man who died (Luke 16). The gist of the story is this beggar who was full of sores was seated next to Abraham, while the rich man who had it all was tormented in hell. Now should we wish this on our rich friend? No!!! Help show him the fruits of salvation and hope that he gains from your sharing.
Verse 8:15 kind of says it all:
And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
Why not be happy? Really, many of Bob Marley’s songs talk about this exact mindset. We really need to be joyful about life no matter if we are in poverty or riches. Traveling on mission trips to other parts of the world gives you an ability to see this first hand. You see families living in shacks and playing with a flat soccer ball all having huge smiles, yet the guy with the Porsche is angry and bitter all the time. Who has it right? Who really knows the meaning of joy and life that God intended for us here on earth?