Paul commended the Corinthian church for its excellence in many areas. Yet, they were woefully lacking in one important place, the practice of giving. They were not a giving church. He brought this to their attention so that they might “excel” in it. Paul didn’t just challenge them to become occasional givers or sentimental givers, but excellent and gracious givers. Are you practicing the act of giving, so that you excel in this grace?
Many people begin well, but few finish well. Even Solomon, the inspired author of this book, did not finish well. If only he would have followed the wisdom that God had given him. As we grow older, we tend to choose rest over reward and comfort over challenge. We look to the modern invention of retirement, rather than reaching and stretching for the finish line. I want to finish strong like Jesus, not Solomon. Lord, give me the strength and grace to finish well. Are you making plans to finish well?
Paul’s warning does not mean separatism. He is not advising that we avoid unbelievers. In the previous chapter, Paul had just written about being entrusted with the “message of reconciliation,” so this requires engaging with lost people. What he is warning against is being partners with them. This should inform our plans for marriage, for church membership and other forms of partnership. Believers should not date or marry unbelievers. Churches should require belief before membership. Even business partnerships should be carefully considered. Successful partnerships have unity of vision and belief. When believers partner with unbelievers, this disunity of belief eventually leads to discord. Save yourself the pain and follow Paul’s advice.
The key to understanding Ecclesiates is the repetitive phrase “under the sun.” Unless there is more to life than what we experience “under the sun,” then life is meaningless. Our only hope for meaning is that there is life “beyond the sun.” Written by King Solomon, the book’s Hebrew title is “Qoheleth” (“Teacher” or “Preacher”). The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) translated the title as “Ekklesiastes” (“the one calling out”). The Teacher is calling out to his hearers explaining that everything “under the sun” is “meaningless” (or “vanity” as in the KJV). This is why believers are to set their sights on the realities of heaven where Christ their Treasure and ultimate meaning dwells (Col. 3:1-4).
Who has been given this message of reconciliation? Everyone who has been reconciled in Christ. The reconciled no longer evaluate others from a human point of view, based on outward differences of gender, ethnicity, or status. Those reconciled see only people of two spiritual conditions: those who have received the message, and those who have not. The reconciled have the most wonderful good news to tell those who are far from God. They feel called to organize their lives around obeying Christ’s command to bear witness of this message of reconciliation to the ends of the earth.
“We know.” This faith we have is based on the historical resurrection of Jesus. We look at this fact, believing it, and this faith becomes like confident knowledge. Believing that God raised Jesus in the past, we also believe that He will raise us with Jesus in the future. Our future hope is anchored in this already-fulfilled past. Ours is not blind faith or empty hope. “We know” that the same God who raised Christ, will raise us too.
Our message is not about us, but about our Lord. For we are like clay pots containing a great treasure. Our weakness only serves to emphasize the greatness of Christ within us. When we want people to see us, to applaud our efforts, we forget that our purpose is to cause others to give glory to God, not to us. For people to see the Treasure, we must decrease, so that He might increase. We are to live in such a manner that there is no other explanation for our existence than God’s power within us.
Job lived by a strategy that every man should follow. Make a covenant with your eyes. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, looking with lust is adultery of the heart (Matt. 5:28). What is this lustful look? The first look may be accidental, but it is the second extended look that leads to sin. Keep your eyes to yourself.
Paul found an open door for the gospel in Troas (In modern Turkey, near the ancient ruins of Troy). What is this “door of opportunity?” It is when the Lord causes a certain people in a certain place at a certain time to be receptive to the gospel. We cannot open this door. But we can knock. If no one answers, we go to the next. Our calling is to let the gospel knock on as many doors as we can reach. And when the Lord opens a door, we enter and stay for as long as we’re welcome. Are you looking for open doors where the Lord is already at work causing gospel-receptivity?
ascends to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT).
Christ is God’s “Yes!” God’s immutable promises, no matter how varied and how long unkept were fulfilled in Christ. Christ is the absolute fulfillment of God’s promises. Yet, we must say “Yes” in response. God has already shouted “Yes!” in Christ to us. So that through Christ we are able to say “Amen!” (which means “Yes, may it be so”) to Him. When we say “Yes” to Jesus, we receive the Promised One and our “Amen” rises to the ears of the Father and to His glory.