Who has not heard groans when a teacher announced the next Bible study would focus upon Job or Ecclesiastes? Soft moans tend to be standard.
And why not groan? After all, the topics of pain, suffering and meaninglessness are depressing. Yet, I love these books for their positive messages.
Ecclesiastes
Humanity is not content to merely exist. We seek purpose and meaningfulness.
Because we want our lives to matter, some will strive to be the best while others seek to contribute in what they deem meaningful ways to society. The desire to build empires, fortunes or erect monuments honoring one’s achievements has driven humankind from time immemorial. Still others try to find a meaningful life through pleasure.
Ecclesiastes can save us from wasting decades of time chasing after the wind. This is not to say that contributing to society, living with wisdom, employing skill in one’s work or even enjoying life is wrong. Rather, it is the awareness that these things are not the reason to get up in the morning.
Ecclesiastes’ thorough and blunt observation is that whatever originates under the sun cannot provide an adequate reason for living. All such earth-bound motivations are transitory, empty delusions which death and the sands of time will eventually blow away. How can this be? Well, if in the end those who engaged in such activities and those who did not receive the same result, then all such activities or experiences must be futile.
Thank you Ecclesiastes for not allowing me to waste years in futility by building my life upon the created order rather than the Creator. What God does will last forever! Hence, God provides an enduring basis for a meaningful life.
“Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Job
Who likes to suffer? Not me! Who desires to pass through the olive press of overbearing trials and pain? No one.
Yet each of us can find ourselves passing through painful dark valleys. The book of Job offers insight. We can summarize several high points.
Let’s remember who Job was. As the story opens even God acknowledged Job’s righteous character.
When Satan sought to use suffering to wedge Job away from God, God remained confident in his servant.
Human ideas about why Job was suffering were entirely wrong! Furthermore, when God finally spoke to Job God did not reveal the why! Hence," the why" is not important. Focusing on the why wastes time and energy! What mattered was "what" Job would do. Would he remain faithful? What will we do?
Although Satan sought to destroy Job through suffering, Satan was completely defeated. God’s wisdom was vindicated. Job grew spiritually! The furnace of trial provided the opportunity for him to grow in humility and submission to God!
His story of pain and suffering helps us. It does not achieve this by allowing us to wallow in “misery loves company” nor “at least one person has suffered more than me.” Rather, the book of Job reminds us that God can be for us even when we suffer! It reminds us that what matters is how we respond to our trials. And as difficult as it may be hear, it underscores the truth of James 1:2-4.
I have a hard time identifying a favorite book of the Bible. I love them all. For me, Ecclesiastes and Job do not fall beneath the others. I love them for what they teach me about how to live.
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