Abigail Denton

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Ecclesiastes Week Three

We’ve taken a little break from our study in Ecclesiastes. It has been nice to get back into the study and dig into what God has written in His word. Each time I set aside the time and space I need to really dig in and listen to what God is saying, I’m amazed. It’s such a good feeling and gives me so much satisfaction. I go through seasons where I invest more time than others in my Bible study and each time I invest more, I wonder how I got out of the habit. Learning and growing in my knowledge and understanding of the Bible blesses my heart and leads to my life being molded into who God has created me to be. He has created me to reflect His character and His son, through the Spirit. One way that happens for me, is through Bible study.

Today I’d like to take a look at chapters three and four of Ecclesiastes. There are a few themes that I found really interesting and applicable to my life right now. I thought we could look at them together. Take some time to read the passage if you can, and spend a few minutes praying that God will open your eyes to His truth. There are three concepts I’d like to work through together. First, we’ll look at how God holds time, second, we’ll see that God gives us good gifts, and finally, we’ll talk about community.

God holds time

First, God holds time. God is the master of time, in every sense. The beginning of chapter three is the famous “time for everything” passage. If you have been around Bible teaching you have probably heard this passage or a part of it. Solomon goes into a little poem he wrote about it. His use of opposites suggests totality, birth to death, or laughing and mourning. A heard it said that this passage doesn’t mean there’s an opportune time for everything and our job is to figure out that timing, but more that God holds the timing for everything. His timing is perfect, and He is in control of all the little and big details that need to fall into place. Further down in verse 17 Solomon talks about a time for righting wrongs and fixing injustice. Over the past few years, I have held tightly to this principle. As our world suffers heavy injustices and as my own little world suffers personal injustices I am reminded that God sees all of it. He sees when I am abused by a mentor, or when our justice system doesn’t work. Solomon reminds us that there is a time when God will judge every deed. The Old Testament Law is largely built on keeping the people from being unjust to each other. David talked a lot about justice in the Psalms. Sometimes those passages feel pretty harsh, David calling down fire and rage from God on the people who have wronged him. I have to admit, though, I’ve walked through seasons of praying that God will avenge the wrong done to me. As we think about time, I need to remember that God, as the master of time, decided what happens and when. It’s His timing on fixing the wrongs done to me. It’s His timing to give me the yes to my prayer. It’s His timing to avenge the social injustices around the world. It’s His timing to bring certain people into that fight at certain times. We fostered a little boy back in 2019 for almost a year. I often think about the timing of so many pieces to that journey. Our paperwork to open our home, the children that needed a home, the specific circumstances of him coming into care, the global pandemic that shifted every single part of the system. God is the master of time, thankfully that is not my burden to carry.

God gives good gifts

Second, God gives good gifts. It is a gift from God to find satisfaction in the things we have (3:12-13). As I sit back and think through my own life, there is much to find satisfactory. As I list all the beautiful things that God has given me, a home, a family to share it with, resources to make that home beautiful, plenty of food and water to not only sustain life but to enjoy it abundantly. As I go down the list, it might seem childish. Almost first-worldly that my list is filled with things I’m thankful for because God graciously set me in a life of abundance. The last part is what really caught my attention. To find satisfaction in all my toil–that’s also part of the gift. My toil isn’t always glamorous. Yesterday, I volunteered at my church to help decorate for Christmas. It was so much fun. We got out all the Christmas trees and lights and set up a photobooth area. It’s easy to find satisfaction in work that I enjoy. I felt like Buddy the elf all day, in the best way! It’s much harder to find satisfaction in work that I don’t enjoy. As a stay-at-home mom, there’s plenty to fill that list; but what about having a job you don’t like but pays the bills? What about caring for a family member that doesn’t appreciate your sacrifice and makes your efforts that much harder? What about serving at your church, filling a gap but not particularly loving that area of need? What about projects that don’t go smoothly or difficult people? Is there room to receive the gift of satisfaction from God without loving that particular task?

God created us for community

Third, God created us for community. I recently heard a teaching on the trinity that has been stuck in my mind ever since. God is in community with the three persons in the trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. We reflect His image by needing community. I have never thought about how God lives in community within the trinity until hearing that teaching and it has shifted my perspective on the concept. It’s not a weakness in our humanity to need community. It’s a reflection of the image of God. The middle part of chapter four talks about needing community (4:7-12). Solomon uses an illustration about a man who obsessed over gaining riches without having anyone to enjoy them with. He declares it’s meaningless to pursue material wealth in life at the cost of, or without, relational wealth. There is help during an emergency when you are in a community, companionship in a community, and even protection from danger in a community. This makes community worth the risk and effort. My natural reaction when relationships get hard or messy is to cut everyone off. It’s much safer and easier for me to not deal with it. To not get hurt, or have to work through forgiveness. This is not God’s way. The Bible is very clear about remaining in community with other believers and with our physical community outside of the church, and I have seen the benefits in my personal life. The Bible talks about community often and meeting with the body of Christ. The risk is high, and I admit that it’s often hard for me to lean into this. How gracious of God to remind us of this again and again and keep our hearts from getting hard towards the community He has given us.

I’ve enjoyed reading through Ecclesiastes so much. These two chapters, three and four, have given me so much to process and think through. God has been showing me how much I need to keep pressing into what He is doing in my life. I’d love to end with some questions to guide you as you process these two chapters. They reflect what I’ve been learning.

I pray this passage has been a comfort and a challenge to you. If there’s a way I can specifically be praying for you or if you’d like to think through these lessons in a safe place, don’t hesitate to send me a message! I’d love to hear from you.

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