Teaching: Ecclesiastes and Eternity (March 27, 2011)
Life on earth...*
Solomon’s book is about life on earth in exclusion to all of the rest of life. Solomon is careful to clarify that his message applies to life “under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:3,9,14; 2:11,17,18,19,20; 3:16; 4:1,3,7,15; 5:13,18; 6:1,12; 8:9,15,17; 9:3,6,9,11,13; 10:5) or “under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 1:13; 2:3; 3:1) or “on earth” (Ecclesiastes 5:2; 7:20; 8:14,16; 11:2).
“Under the sun” and “under heaven” are interchangeable (Ecclesiastes 1:13-14).
“Under the sun” and “on earth” are interchangeable (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17).
Solomon would not have specified so constantly that he is referring to life “on earth” if he did not believe that there was any life other than this life on earth. Old Testament saints - before and after Solomon - were so certain of a resurrection from the dead unto eternal life that they gave up much in obedience to God (Hebrews 11). Therefore, the message of the book refers to life on earth in exclusion to life beyond this world.
...is completely vain for everyone always...
“All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 14 2:17; 3:19; 12:8). As he describes the world, Solomon often observes “this also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:15,19,21,23,26; 4:4,8,10; 6:9; 7:6; 8:10,14; cf. Ecclesiastes 2:1), a “vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:21; 4:7; 6:3-4; 8:14; 11:8,10), a “striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9,14,17), an “evil” (Eccleasiastes 2:21; 4:3; 5:13,16; 6:1,2; 9:3; 10:5), without gain (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 2:11, 13-17; 3:9; 5:9-16). These evaluations of life are interconnected; for example, sometimes, he describes the same fact of life as a “vanity” and as an “evil” (Ecclesiastes 2:21; 6:2; perhaps even 5:1,7). The question for Solomon is not whether one’s life will be vain but “...what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life...?” (Ecclesiastes 6:12). Even the best possible life on earth - an enjoyed life - is still a vain life (Ecclesiastes 9:9; cf. 2:24; 3:12,22)
...because everyone’s life on earth always ends.
We know that the life of everyone under the sun is vanity because we know that the life of everyone under the sun will end (Ecclesiastes 2:16-17). Everyone takes nothing from this earth (Ecclesiastes 5:15) and sustains no role on this earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).
Therefore, live for eternity (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Give up treasures that will rust for the sake of treasures that will last (Matthew 6:19-21; 19:21; Luke 12:33; 18:22; 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19). Give up a life that end for the sake of a life that will never end (Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24). In other words, live as if your life on earth is an illusion, because it is fading away so quickly (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
Quotations...
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
- Jim Elliot, Journal Entry, October 28, 1949 <http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/faq/20.htm>
*Note: Slight revisions for clarity and precision.
(This is the Teacher Guide. Click to see the Student Handout.)
Carry the Cross
Sunday Night Bible Study on March 7, 2010
at Christian Missionary Alliance in Aurora, Indiana
In order to be His disciple, we must carry a cross (Luke 9:23-27; 14:27; Matthew 10:38-39; c.f. I Corinthians 15:31), love all less than Christ (Matthew 10:37), hate all (Luke 14:25-27), and abandon all (Luke 14:33).
1. How do other passages relate to "hate... father and mother" (Matthew 14:26)?
a. Do not murder parents (I Timothy 1:9; c.f. Exodus 21:15).
b. Do not disobey parents (Romans 1:30; II Timothy 3:2); instead, obey parents (Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20; I Timothy 3:4)
c. Honor parents (Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2-3).
i. Support your family's widows as a religious expression (I Timothy 5:3-8).
ii. Obligation to parents’ needs (John 19:25-27) supercede obligations to religious customs (Mark 7:8-13).
2. How do other passages relate to "forsaketh... all that he hath" (Luke 14:33)?
Do not desire to be rich (I Timothy 6:9-10; c.f. Hebrews 13:5 and c.f. Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25) or hoard your wealth (James 5:1-3; Luke 12:18); instead, pursue sharing (Romans 12:13).
i. Work in order to have in order to share (Ephesians 4:28).
ii. Have in order to share (Luke 12:33; Acts 2:24).
iii. Sell everything in order to share (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22).
iv. Share with love (I Corinthians 13:3; Proverbs 23:6-7) for an audience of One (Matthew 6:4; Acts 5:1-11).
v. Examples: Zachaeus (Luke 19:8-9), Jerusalem Church (Acts 4:32-37) Corinthian Church (2 Corinthians 8:1-7), Levi (Mark 2:14; Matthew 9:9), and Simon, James and John (Luke 5:11).
Sharing is investing (Matthew 6:19-20; 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33; 18:22)
We will receive earthly blessing (with persecution) and an eternal reward if we abandon everything for Jesus, the Gospel and the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:29; Luke 18:29-30; Mark 10:29-30). When we abandon everything for the prize, we follow the example of Paul (Philippians 3:7-21) and Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Note: BibleGateway.com and the Holman Christian Standard Bible cross references have again been helpful in creating this teaching.
WARNING: DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND!!! Zacheos - even though a swindler - is forgiven without ACTUALLY handing over each penny he owned to the poor.
Luke 19:8-9 New King James Version (NKJV)
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house,
Yes, true, it could be argued how the math played out with Zacheos, but the sacred text itself does not say that he gave everything. The points from the other teaching about working to have to give are important to remember: "Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it." (Proverbs 21:20)
I do not own even myself right? Bought with a price by Christ. Everything I am and have is on mission. It's down with the struggle - all of me, all I have.
This teaching about hating parents, etc., helps provide balance to the other one from Ecclesiastes, which ends with a call for radical abandoned of all for Christ.
