My study of Ecclesiastes was very productive. I decided that i needed to return to the New Testament, but since I had spent a lot of time in the gospels before Ecclesiastes, I decided to return to one of the epistles. Galatians kept popping in my head, so here I am.
Galatians 1:6 – After a short greeting, Paul dives right in, challenging them on “deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ”. No sensitive consideration of their viewpoint or feelings.
Galatians 1:9 – Paul does not mince words – if anyone is preaching a different gospel, let him be cursed. We tolerate a lot of different gospels, don’t we? By ‘tolerate’ I don’t necessarily mean accept, but we treat them as if they are valid gospels. We accept them as alternate teachings too easily, I think. We don’t have to berate and rebuke at every turn, but there is a way to stand firm when we see a ‘gospel’ that is not the gospel. I don’t get the impression that Paul was much concerned about who might be offended here by calling their teachings false.
Galatians 1:15-19 – Paul seems to go out of his way to drive home the point that the gospel he preaches is not his own nor that of the other apostles. He received it directly from God (see verse 1 as well). He wasn’t claiming to have a different teaching than the others, only to say that it was from God. If you refuse it, you are refusing not Paul or ‘the church’ but God. He seems to be nailing this down to make it clear that what he was about to write was not debatable or a matter of opinion.
In our age of so many churches and denominations, on one hand there is a lot of legitimate value in the vast variety of understandings. Still, there is a need to stand for the one and only gospel of Christ. The challenge is how to do both. When we claim to have all understanding, as my family of churches, and the larger CoC tribe before them once did (and sometime still do), we block out any knowledge but our own. We not only prevent our own growth, we alienate others who need to be taught by what we do understand.
However, the other extreme is to never confront anyone when they are clearly far away from the gospel. I think I tend to fall into this trap, it’s the easy way, and it sounds and feels righteous. No confrontation, being nice and ‘respectful’. But respect does not demand silence, but to speak firmly demands respect and discernment.

Interesting observation. I am frequently caught in the ‘paralysis of analysis’, ever searching for the right or best answer. This weekend, I put up a new closet shelving system in my middle daughter’s room. I wasn’t planning to, but circumstances presented themselves last week which made this weekend the right time to do it. I planned it, bought the stuff adn installed it in less than a week, a record of sorts for me. My wife commented – “What, you’re not going to spend days exploring every option?”
Solomon seems to be commenting on folks like me – ever planning, but never getting things done.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – In the end it comes down to this – Fear God and keep his commandments. I was telling some folks on Sunday regarding my study of Ecclesiastes that the recurring theme was “Enjoy what you’ve got, work hard and be happy.” While I still find this true, the end of chapter 12 gives the context in which that is possible – fearing God and keeping His commands. Solomon says this is the whole duty of man. Not that there aren’t other duties that need done, work that we must accomplish in our lives, but that any work we do is to be done in the context of following God.
The conclusion is that there’s nothing worth doing on Earth that is done outside that context.
I’ve learned a lot from Solomon in Ecclesiastes. Mostly, I learned to not worry about the meaning of it all and just be content. Enjoy what God’s given me, work hard and be happy. There’s a lot of freedom in that.

Like a chapter that would be at home in Proverbs, Solomon here notes the benefits of wisdom and the power of folly.

Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Sounds a little hopeless, doesn’t it? A little folly outweighs wisdom. Take it not as a lament but as a warning – it doesn’t take a lot of foolishness to cause a lot of trouble. How many tragedies have you heard that began with just a little folly?

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7

Anyone who’s watched government in action can attest to the first part of that, but what of the second? Salves on horses, princes on the ground? What prince walks when he can ride or be driven, what slave can get a place on a horse?
The prince that doesn’t know he’s a prince and the slave who doesn’t understand that he’s imprisoned. I see many who think they are something when in reality they are slaves – slaves to their image, to their lifestyle, to their sin, to peer pressure. Others, who live in freedom and who are princes, sons of the king, live as if they were nothing, slaves, trapped, imprisoned. the have no confidence, no faith in their worth, even though they were bought at a price. Neither understands who they are.
Of course, I’m talking about those who are Christians and who are not. So many outside the church think of themselves as something when they are not and many inside have been given everything including Jesus and can’t see it. When the world beats you down, and everything around you points to your worthlessness, it can be hard to see the invisible God who bought you at such a high price. I think we can all do more to lift each other’s head to Jesus when the world beats us down.
There is a lot of wisdom in the remaining verses. Most have a practical application as well as layers of deeper meaning if you meditate on them for a while. Frankly, it can be easy to skim over them and miss the deeper meaning. Some of my favorites from Ecclesiastes 10:

10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Work smarter, not harder. Solomon thought of that one first too.

11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed,
there is no advantage to the charmer.

That one made em smile, but then I thought about how many people get bitten by the metaphorical snakes they try to charm.

18 Through sloth the roof sinks in,
and through indolence the house leaks.

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king,
nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
for a bird of the air will carry your voice,
or some winged creature tell the matter.

“Even in your thoughts …” That’s a high standard, but the truth is we cannot think that we can curse someone in our thoughts and have it not come through in our actions and attitudes. Besides, God judges us on our hearts, and the way you are in private is a better reflection of who you are inside than what you do in public. Think about that the next time you’re alone in the car, in a hurry and in slow traffic.

Ecclesiastes 9:2-6 – Solomon recognizes the problem of the earth that many lament. Good thing and bad things happen to everyone, there is no rhyme or reason. The good have evil befall them and the evil have good events. It’s random, not related to our own behavior. The rain falls on the righteous and the sinner and the sun shines on them both as well. Solomon says it’s “an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all.”
But he recognizes that the unfair, random acts of the Earth is better than the alternative. life may be unfair and tragic, but in death there is no more opportunity for joy, happiness or good fortune. “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.”
Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 – So what’s the answer that Solomon has to this? Life is short, so enjoy it. Give it your all, love those you have near and be happy. All those cliches – “Don’t worry, be happy”, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”, “Life comes at you fast.” – Solomon thought of it first.
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 – In verse 11 he says “Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.” but right after, he extols the virtues of wisdom over folly, including a vague story about a poor, wise man who saved a small town from a King’s onslaught. I don’t think anyone would argue about the benefits of wisdom, but it seems at odds with his prior statements.
I guess it’s more of a continuation of his rant on the unfair nature of life. The wise man isn’t remembered, because he was poor. Though wisdom is superior, sin can still do a lot of damage.

Ecclesiastes 8:4 – “For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”” Solomon, as king would know. I wonder if this is only part sound advice on dealing with those in authority, particularly absolute authority. I wonder if it is part a lament that no one wold approach him as king and challenge him honestly on his sin. I know I appreciate those who confront me when I need it and frankly I’m certain that I need it more than I get it. How much Solomon must have felt alone as king when very few felt comfortable saying what needed to be said.
Ecclesiastes 8:10-13 – Solomon saw that in life when a sentence against evil is not delivered quickly, the people have no fear of authority and are inclined to evil and applied it to man’s relationship with God. If men fear God, they obey Him and ultimately it goes well with them. Fear of those in power, be it the King or God, produces respect which delivers the people under them. It’s tempting to be the nice, unoffensive leader, but acting with authority and conviction is good for those being led.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 – “… man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful…” Why is this so hard? We eat and drink, but we even are frequently unhappy about that. Solomon says just be joyful, period. But we listen to the world that tells us we need a newer car, a bigger house, a faster computer, more stylish clothes, or to be thinner or stronger or less gray haired or have more hair or whatever and we buy it and are never happy, let alone joyful. Solomon had everything that could be had in his day and his response was there was nothing better than to eat, drink and be joyful.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 – No matter how much we learn about the world, there are more and more mysteries as to how it works – or rather, how God is working in it. I remember when I was in High School physics, protons, neutrons and electrons were the smallest building blocks of matter. Then bigger microscopes came along, and quarks and I don’t know what else were discovered. Science knows exponentially more than in Solomon’s day, but we still can’t explain where we came from or where we’re going or how life really works after all.

Ecclesiastes 6 is a scant 12 verses, and a bit of a downer. Better a still born child than a man not satisfied with life’s good things, Solomon says.
That’s on the face of it, however. Thinking about it a bit more, I think I see what Solomon is saying is that if you can’t be satisfied with the good things you have in this life, you’re worse off than a stillborn infant. For that child finds rest quickly, while the ever unsatisfied man, longing for more, never finds rest.
Look at what’s good in your life, and be satisfied that God has provided enough for you. After all, if it weren’t enough, He would have provided more.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3

Wow, there’s a lot of wisdom in this one paragraph. Where was this years ago when I was swept away in big dreams and the proclamation of doing big things for God. Of course, it was right here, but I was too busy dreaming and proclaiming to listen to it. Ah, irony. Solomon cautions us about speaking rashly – “God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” Wisdom comes with age and experience, and a fair amount of pain as you do things you’ll later regret.
I see this at work in others as they speak and proclaim and fail to hear God. To those around them, it’s clear, but they are too busy dreaming to hear. It breaks my heart sometimes. How do you break through to those who “do not know that they are doing evil”?
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 – Wow. Seriously, wow. I need to do a family devo on this section. Some really good stuff to learn. I remember being taught that disciples dream big, plan big and do great things for God. To do anything less is to dishonor Him. Solomon would disagree – “For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.”
Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 – “There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture.” How appropriate for today as the wealthy scratch for more and to prevent from loosing their riches while their folly trickles down and hurts those who had no part in it.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – So work and find enjoyment in it. Why? Because it is your lot, God has made you for this. It’s a gift of God. Then, you “will not much remember the days of [your] life because God keeps [you] occupied with joy in [your] heart.”
Life is not about chasing big dreams, making big plans and accomplishing great things. God has given us a small place to fill, we are to work to fill it. And in this is the Joy that eludes so many, including me, far too often.
I needed to hear this.

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-4

An appropriate lament in an era where individuals are losing their homes (some innocent, some not so much) and jobs while executives continue to get large paychecks, big bonuses, go on lavish retreats and at worst get golden parachutes.
Ecclesiastes 4:6 – “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” Paul said something similar to Timothy – “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment”. But Christians continue to fall for the pattern of the world that says much toil and much gain brings contentment.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 – Surrounding these verses much used in weddings is a larger, more general truth. Relationships are more beneficial than hard work or what it gains you. How many families have been ruined by a father’s lone ambition to succeed, perhaps couched in ‘providing for his family’?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – A time for everything. (Is it possible to read this passage without Simon and Garfunkel running through your head?) Good to remember, we cannot be happy all the time, there are times for sadness. Nor can we speak out all the time, there is a time for silence. If times are bad, take heart, this too shall pass, if times are good, enjoy them but be sober, it’s time too shall pass.
Ecclesiastes 3:12 – “… here is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good …” yet, we find reasons to not do good, that somehow it’s better to pursue something other than simply doing good.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 – “…everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” There it is again – pleasure in our work is God’s gift to man.
Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 – Dust to Dust. Solomon did not have the understanding that we do, the knowledge of the promise of eternity. Jesus had not yet come to declare it, so he says (v. 21) “Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?”. Who knows? We now know.
Ecclesiastes 3:18 – “… God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.” God is testing us to see if we will understand who we are, mere beasts. We like to see ourselves as superior, gifted with intelligence, free will and opposable thumbs. But the truth is that we are mere beasts with little more control over our destiny than any other animal. We cannot stop our own sin, we are not nearly as free as we’d like to believe. God wants to know, will we get it? Will we humble ourselves before Him, understanding who we are and understand that we truly do need Him? I’ve written of this before, He’s calling us in this. In our frailties he’s telling us that we are nothing without Him, we need him.