Qoheleth and the Good Life: Secondary Pleasures

 Solomon wants us to make sure we understand our priorities.  God is our chief concern and we are responsible to remember our Creator in the days of our youth- before we've wasted the short life we have been given.  Other things may vie for our attention but it will be disastrous if we make money or possessions, or relationships, or honor our primary concern.  Let God alone be your goal.

However, once we have that priority straight, Solomon discusses secondary pleasures.  These are good gifts that come down to us from the Father of lights.  We are to see them as our portion, gifts from God designed for our blessing.  Watch for all the things in Ecclesiastes that fall to our account as secondary blessings.

The blessings are not intrinsic to themselves.  Solomon says wealth and possessions and honor are neutral concerns:  One verse says God gives us the power to enjoy them.  Another verse says God could withhold the power to enjoy them.  Solomon is saying the difference is not in the gift but the Giver.

One blessing from God is the reminder that the righteous, the wise,  and their deeds are in the hand of God.  He is our security and our rest.  Whatever secondary gifts we might receive are not worthy to be compared with the contentment available in our relationship with Him.

One assurance regarding our short life in this world is that God "has already approved what you do."  This is as close as Solomon gets to Paul, said one commentator.  Because we have a faithful relationship with God, we can dress in white garments, wear the oil of gladness, and rejoice in the blessings of this life.  God has already approved our work.

Finally, in the midst of our toil, as we carry out the dominion mandate, these secondary pleasures go with us.  As we sweat and toil over the thorns and thistles involved in our work, God keeps us occupied with joy and gladness of heart.  These secondary pleasures keep us occupied with joy.

What are the secondary pleasures to which Solomon refers?  A quick scan of the book of Ecclesiastes is enough to help us find a load of gifts that are curses when we pursue them instead of God, but blessings when they come back to us from His hand.  Spend some time making your own list of secondary pleasures from the book.  Here's my list:

    Eat

    Drink

    Wealth

    Possessions 

    Honor

    Marriage (wife)

    Ability to do good

Qoheleth and the Good Life: What is the Role of Death in the Book of Ecclesiastes?

 Death plays a prominent role in the Book of Ecclesiastes.  Yet, Solomon doesn't have a morbid preoccupation with the physical decay or the emotional pangs of grief and loss.  Instead, he refers to death like Stephen Covey (First Law of Highly Successful People):  Begin with the end in mind.  His, and Solomon's reasoning, goes something like this:  1.  What do you want people to say at your funeral?  2.  Back up and live with those words in mind so that people actually say those things at your funeral.

Here are Solomon's two concerns:

First, Death reminds us of our limitations.  "No man has power over the day of his death."  Death is sure and we have no power to delay or divert it.  Our memory will be forgotten- there will be no enduring remembrance.  In death, there is no more reward for the things we do and we have no more share in what is done under the sun.  Man is limited to these few days that are given to us.  In light of death, how should we live?

Second, Death makes us rearrange our priorities.  "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth."  Before our bodies remind us daily of our approaching decay (it's too late for me, save yourselves!), we are to make Christ the central focus of our lives.  He is our central concern, our chief priority.  Then, Solomon says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, because your time is quickly passing."

Our task is to invest our remaining time wisely with eyes wide open for opportunities to do good.  "Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment."  Open our eyes, Lord, to what our investment possibilities are for Your glory!

For Solomon, death is not a tragedy, it is the finish line for a life well-lived.  May we arrange the days of our short life under the sun, in order that we may hear "Well done, good and faithful servant!"