Wednesday Night’s Lesson

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 KJV)

We’ve been studying Ecclesiastes on Wednesday nights – this week we were on Chapter 9 and pastor came to these four things we should be doing now:

1 – Eat with a merry heart – you’ve earned it with good work. Now, that doesn’t mean to gorge ourselves, but take our ease and enjoy our meals. A family, be it husband/wife or a house full, is always a blessing.

2 – White clothing was reserved for special occasions,  so this means we shouldn’t set back our best things but use and enjoy them or we may never do so.

3 – Now I do like this one – we are to enjoy our spouse, and I most certainly do love him all the days of the life God has given us, and will continue doing so for as many more years as we have together. This one I have truly enjoyed!

4 – Enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s earned you the first and second  items on this list. Plan for the future, but be aware of other things Solomon learned and included in this chapter:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV)

In this world, the good guys don’t always win. Time and chance happen to all. From his own experience and watching the lives of others, Solomon learned this valuable lesson. We did learn just a bit more, though, from Paul.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

In this world, we do have hope, but have no assurance that our plans will be completed. The only thing Solomon knew would happen to everyone is death, and we won’t be taking anything from this world when we leave.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 KJV)

Paul defined the Christian’s hope:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1 KJV)

Is it yours while here under the sun?