Ecclesiastes 6

Ecclesiastes 6New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill. A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life’s good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered; moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?

All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger. The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better? For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun?

This chapter begins to border on the esoteric and abstract, doesn't it?

Yet the message as you parse it out remains on point: enjoy what you have now because the future may not be as amenable to the enjoyment of it! 

Because,...well, all is vapor...

I'm sure you see this a thousand times a week in your own life and the life of those around you.

Opportunities missed. Relationships not developed.

iPhone connections rather than face to face connections!

The one I am personally guilty of: shoving something in my mouth while standing in the panty because I'm in a hurry, rather than sitting down and enjoying the food I am fortunate enough to have.

Have you ever been with someone who takes each moment as a blessing? Holds each thing in their life with gratitude?

I have been lucky enough to visit Tanzania several times in my life, and the visits I've had with the Maasai people have been a humbling lesson. Their diet is sparse and simple. They use and do not waste virtually any part of the cow which is the most important part of their diet.

Their homes are made even out of cow dung - and yet, as I sat in one of them, I was treated to a kind of hospitality that is rare. There was not a part of their life in that small compound that was not fully lived, enjoyed, shared, and made the most of. They were positively bursting at the seams to share it with us.

There will be a moment today that you will want to live and feel fully. A moment that you will want to share with others.

Don't miss it!

Thank you Lord for this life and help me to live it fully and with abandon! Amen

Ecclesiastes 5:13-20

Ecclesiastes 5:13-20New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands. As they came from their mother’s womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands. This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go; and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind? Besides, all their days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.

This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot. Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God. For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.

"Meaningless" is another word often used rather than futility or vapor or smoke in Ecclesiastes. And as you read this first paragraph, the meaninglessness of riches becomes apparent. "

You come in with nothing. And you go out with nothing.

And yet, says the teacher, this is what is good: to enjoy what you have when you have it.

To be present in this moment of time and savor it.

To enjoy relationship and companionship.

To share a meal and drink and gather together.

We live in a culture that instead seems always to be looking for "more" or "better." More money, more stuff, better clothing, better cars.

And yet once they come, the enjoyment often turns to vapor. 

And we look for the next thing.

Is there something you have already - or a person you care about but haven't connected with in a while; a group you've been wanting to be a part of; a class you want to take; a party you've wanted to throw - that you can reach in and enjoy now? Make the most of?

Celebrate?

Find joy with?

You have this moment. 

Make the most of it!

God of now, open my eyes and heart to what and who is before me and the possibilities of them. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-12

Ecclesiastes 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s voice with many words.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words, and destroy the work of your hands?

With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.

The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

Here we have a string of advice or proverbs. Not all of them seemingly connected.

Something I was reminded of this week was the the word "fool" in the Bible has a much stronger connotation than when we use it today. We tend to use the following definition for fool (or something like it): "a person who person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person."

In scripture when we hear or read fool, there is a darker connotation. Here is someone who not only acts unwisely, but wickedly or egotistically. The fool is rash, immoral, and prideful.

We see often in wisdom literature in the Bible how bad it is to be considered a fool, and some of that behavior we probably see on the television on a daily basis. 

Sometimes even by those who we know are supposed to be the opposite of fools!

If we read this passage closely, we see that the human condition has not changed all that much, has it?

So where today to we go to for the wisdom to know how to not be foolish?

What else guides us in our lives besides scripture?

Who else guides us?

There seems to be a rash of "fools" on the world stage. How do we wade through their rash words and find God's words of love instead?

Good and gracious God, help us to see past foolishness to your wisdom. Let that wisdom be our guide! Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4

Ecclesiastes 4New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive; but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Fools fold their hands
    and consume their own flesh.
Better is a handful with quiet
    than two handfuls with toil,
    and a chasing after wind.

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom. I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king; there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

A short chapter with lots of proverbial types of admonitions and advice.

And hard stuff to hear I think in some ways with our modern (or post-modern) sensibilities.

In here we have a mash up of the nature of work and pleasure. Of the nature of companionship.

And again a return to the idea of the vaporous effect of life.

So what do we do with it?

He is rather harsh on the single individual. And we could dismiss this easily since we live in a different time.

But is there a larger message of community here that we can still value as important?

And through relationship itself do we find meaning?

Studies show that most people today meet their life partners at work (or school). So literally today "toil" and "pleasure" are inexorably connected.

Relationship matters. It matters for the single person. It matters for the couple. For the family. For the work mates. For the school mates.

For the neighbors. For the members of the community.

Relationship matters. It matters to God that we have community for love, comfort, companionship, and co-workers with us in the business of life.

What relationships are the ones that most impact you?

Lord of relationship, you know it is not good for us to be alone. Help me today to reach out to those on the journey with me! Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-22

Ecclesiastes 3:12-22New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.

Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work. I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity. All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?

Who knows what's to come.

Truth is that we have no idea what comes next. We have vague notions of heaven and hell based on tradition that has been passed down, but nothing really concrete about what to expect of either place.  For my part, I'm doubting there will be chubby cherubs playing harps on clouds, or red-horned demons poking people inside a ring of fire.

All we really know, the teacher tells us, is that God endures forever.

That life is a gift.

That life is meant to be lived fully and enjoyed.  Even our work.

And that God knows the rest. Knows our hearts. Knows our dreams. Knows our hopes. Our fears.

Our sins.

Our triumphs.

Our pain.

Ecclesiastes could be read perhaps with an air of futility. 

Or it could be read with hope and wonder.

God endures forever.

Life is a gift.

Yes, sometimes it is grinding. And scary. And seemingly futile.

You might wonder where it is leading. Or what the point is.

We might look around and wonder at what comes next and worry about it.

Or we might look around and see that whatever it is that comes next, we know that God endures.

And so hope endures.

Lord, let me not worry about tomorrow, but grab on tightly to the gift of today. Amen

Ecclesiastes 3:11b

Ecclesiastes 3:11bNew Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 

Lately I've been hearing a lot about mindfulness meditation, and trying to practice it myself. I find that I often fall into the trap of either being so focused on the future that I miss what's happening in the here and now (or maybe trip over myself because I'm not paying attention!)

Or sometimes I so caught up ruminating about the past, that I can't prepare for the future or make the most of the present.

So sometimes either my head is in the clouds, or the past is weighing me down.

Have either of those been issues for you? Based on the number of people I talk to, it seems to be a common problem. Letting the past steal our joy of the present, or worrying about the future so that we fail to see what is going on now.

Yet we clearly have a sense of both the past and the present, and without them we wouldn't grow or mature. We navigate the past, present, and future, often it seems without a road map.

And with only a limited perspective.

Yet God has the whole picture. Past, present, future. All at once. All together. Kairos time rather than Kronos time. 

God's time rather than our time.

And the time we have most clearly and certainly with God is now. In the present. 

God is preparing us for the future, yes. And healing past wounds, certainly.

But standing with us, beside us, working through us, now.

Mindfulness helps keep me living in the here and now. Appreciating what is in front of me, and keeping regret and worry at bay. Do not worry about the future, God says.

Your past is forgiven, God says.

The road map might not be clear. It might be a mystery.  Yet, whatever I am focused on - past, present, future - it is by faith that I navigate it.  

And whatever the past or the future, God is with me now.

God of all time, help me to live each moment fully and gratefully.  Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11a

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11aNew Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; 

Probably the most famous verses here from Ecclesiastes. 

Are you like me and you want to sing these verses? The song, Turn, Turn, Turn, recorded by the Byrds came out 50 years ago this week as a matter of fact. If you look it up on Wikipedia, you'll see the writer credit goes to both Pete Seeger and the Book of Ecclesiastes, as the lyrics are nearly a line by line adaptation from the book.

And here in Ecclesiastes the tone begins to "turn, turn, turn" as well, if you'll pardon the pun. Suddenly, everything doesn't seem to be a vanity or vapor.

Everything instead has a time and a season.

As someone who turned 50 myself this year, that message has been a particular poignant one for me to try to fold into my life. I can see in the mirror the passage of one time to another. I can feel in my bones the passage of one time to another.

What time is it in your life? Are there things you are holding onto from a previous time that it is time to let go of so that you can be ready for the next thing?

And in our homes and churches and communities, are we being nudged to move from one time to another?

God has made everything suitable for its time, the teacher writes.

What time is it?

To close, here's Turn, Turn, Turn, sung here by Pete Seeger and Judy Collins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0elIkxqmITw

Lord, help me to let go of those things that it is time to let go of so that I may be ready for the next thing you would have me move into. Amen.