2019 Mar 25 Ecclesiastes 2, 1Peter 5
2019 Mar 25 Ecclesiastes 2, 1Peter 5
Wishing you a wonderful day with a warm welcome! Let’s turn to Ecclesiastes, this time chapter 2 verses 1-3:
“1 Then I said in my heart: “Come and let me try out pleasure and see what good comes.” But look! that too was futility. 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness!” And about pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I explored with my heart by indulging myself with wine, all the while maintaining my own wisdom; I even embraced foolishness to find out what was the best thing for humans to do during their few days of life under the heavens.”
Eccle 2:1,2 So Solomon ‘tries out pleasure,’ exploring to see any benefits from the pursuit of pleasure in life, likely still without violating God’s laws. He wanted to know if a pleasure-seeking way of life was really all it appeared to be. Clearly, he was disappointed with the results. He says “Look! That too was futility.” God’s word is in agreement on this matter elsewhere, when referring to pleasure-seeking, especially when ignoring God and His standards. For instance, 2Timothy 3:1-5 talks about the “last days,” the time we’re living in, and says these would be “critical times, hard to deal with.” The reason given is that people would be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty,...headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,” among other things. Clearly, forgetting God, having no appreciation for His love—His desire to be close to us—ignoring Him and pursuing pleasure is contributing to an immoral, decadent society that would continue to miss out on true happiness, peace, and security. References to pride are abundant in the context, thus having no “fear of God,” which “means the hating of bad,” is largely responsible for the attitude. (Prove 8:13). The apostle Peter also references a pleasure-seeking people, ignoring God’s standards, when saying, at 1Peter 4:3-5:
“3 For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have done the will of the nations when you carried on in acts of brazen conduct, unbridled passions, overdrinking, wild parties, drinking bouts, and lawless idolatries. 4 They are puzzled that you do not continue running with them in the same decadent course of debauchery, so they speak abusively of you. 5 But these people will render an account to the one who is ready to judge those living and those dead.”
Thus, such pleasure-seeking conduct truly is “futile,” not contributing to one’s relationship with God, but rather, detracting from it, leading ones onto a path of destruction rather than one of eternal happiness. Such conduct would include greedily idolizing oneself or other God-dishonoring humans or practices. Pleasure was found by Solomon to be ‘useless,’ and even “laughter” was found to be “madness”—or “extreme foolishness.” Today, many comedic TV shows play “laughter tracks” to simulate a laughing audience, where there really is none. Editors shrewdly position their “laughter” where they wish or want you to think something funny, even when it should not be considered amusing at all—sometimes even when someone gets hurt or injured! Let’s be careful, realizing that many such shows might be considered by God as “worthless,” and the inspired psalmist wisely says, at Psalm 101:3, “3 I will not set anything worthless before my eyes. I hate the deeds of those who deviate from what is right; I will have nothing to do with them.” Honestly—God designed us to enjoy life—just watch kittens or puppies at play and isn’t it clear that God wants us to have fun and laugh??!! So let’s laugh at the right things, taking pleasure in what is truly good, while seeking God’s will. May more and more TV shows return to encouraging people to delight in what brings genuine pleasure in harmony with God’s right standards, within which there is plenty of room for enjoyment and happiness!
Eccle 2:3 Solomon even indulged in wine, with it’s relaxing of inhibitions and increased enjoyment for an occasion. He was able to do this “while maintaining his own wisdom,” not straying too far, as might one in the throws of alcoholism. Still, as he explored such things, including foolishness itself, looking for what may contribute to the well-being of humans, he once again found largely futility—that such things were vanity, contributing very little to one’s relationship with God and qualification for eternal life. (Eccle 2:11). Surely, enjoying occasions with wine and laughter can be in harmony with God’s will, and can provide us with perhaps some enjoyable experiences and memories. Nevertheless, pleasing our loving God promotes the greatest happiness, in harmony with the way He designed humans. Thus, while finding enjoyment in life, may we seek to accomplish the will of God, contributing to true success and contentment for ourselves and others.
1Peter 5:8,9 says “8 Keep your senses, be watchful! Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. 9 But take your stand against him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by the entire association of your brothers in the world.”
Thus, enemies of God and true righteousness may be prowling around, looking for victims. How we need godly wisdom, advice, and reminders to protect us day-to-day from the ungodliness and temptations that could otherwise lead us astray! As we come to love God’s guidance, we are moved to reject any wrong path that we may be tempted with. And we need prayerful reliance upon God as well, in any situation that could distract us from pursuit of God’s will, or the keeping of His standards. May we appreciate God’s faithfulness toward us, that He can lovingly guard us from sinning, making a way out for us to endure tests with integrity—without being corrupted away from the true faith. A scripture we should know well is
1Corinthians 10:13, saying “13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
Thus, be determined to maintain integrity before God—wholeness or completeness without corruption—as we accept the knowledge of God and learn His standards and ways. This will lead us to greater and greater happiness in harmony with God’s delightful will for us, knowing He wants as many as possible to “be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1Timo 2:3,4).
Find Life and See
Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
