“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” The Apostle Paul encourages followers of Jesus to live their lives filled with joy. Why? Not because everything is going well or because we need to think positively. We have joy in spite of our circumstances because “the Lord is at hand.”
The only hope for ourselves is to give up hope in ourselves. The Preacher comes to the end of Ecclesiastes not by exhorting people to work harder and do better to earn God’s favor and forgiveness. The end of Ecclesiastes is not a demand of the Law which you can accomplish, but a Gospel invitation knowing you cannot accomplish what the Law demands. Like the disciples asked, “What must we do to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
In many ways, “A Mighty Fortress” is the anthem of the Reformation. When Martin Luther wrote the lyrics he looked to Psalm 46 for inspiration. How might the words, “Be still and know that I am God,” comfort us today?
There are times in our lives when we feel ten feet tall and bullet proof. We think we have the world by the tail, but then something comes from out of nowhere to remind us that we are dust and to dust we will return. Striving after the wind is no respecter of age or stage in life. The young foolishly believe they can accomplish significance and the old worry that significance will slip through their fingers. Regardless of your place in life, the Word of God points us to our Creator for identity, security, and significance. Join us as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
We are all natural born control freaks. It has been said that the root of control is fear. We fear that life will not work out for us, and as a result, we pursue things that are a sure things and the safe bet. These pursuits are veiled and vain attempts to control life, but if life teaches us anything it teaches us that we are out of control. Ecclesiastes 10:8-9 says, “He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.” This world is filled with danger and uncertainty. Even for the Christian we must remember Ecclesiastes 9:1, “Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.” So, what do we do? Join us as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
How does Sunday morning impact Monday through Saturday? Does worship impact and influence the rest of your life or is gathering in the house of God for worship separate? Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Before we set out on all of our vain pursuits, Ecclesiastes reminds us to “guard our steps,” which begins with the fear of the Lord. What does this look like in real life? Join us as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
It has been said, “Be nice to people on the way up, because they are the same people you’ll meet on the way down.” The path to loneliness is founded on the pavement of broken relationships. Ecclesiastes calls the pursuit of success at the expense of relationships striving after wind. Join us on Sunday as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
Time is like a river. Time takes from us what it first gives to us. It is simultaneously a generous giver and a cruel thief. Trying to calm our fears by controlling times, seasons, and outcomes is a game we will all eventually lose. Our only hope in the tick tock and turning of time is to focus on eternity which God has put into the human heart (Ecc. 3:11). Join us as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
It’s not hard to understand that sinful pursuits are vanity and striving after wind. But, what about pursuing good things? Things like knowledge and wisdom? Things like hard work and a career? It’s true that these things are good, but apart from God they are still vanity and striving after wind. Join us on Sunday as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.
Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” Warren Buffett said that success is when you get to the end of your life and the people you love also love you. History is filled with people who have been there – done that. They are constantly reminding us that our empty pursuits are meaningless. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So, why do we still pursue vanity and striving after wind? Join us as the Word of God takes a painful but necessary look at our lives to reveal why we do the things we do and call us to find significance in the God who makes all things new.