adam ross beach

Ecclesiastes

I've been preaching through the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. The content is challenging to deal with - but when you look at the context of the book, and the greater context of the entire Bible - it is incredible the range and the depth of human experience that the writer deals with.

The call that I hear from the book is to seek out the deeper meaning of life, and to take heart and enjoy the relationships, and the "lot" or the "portion" that has been given to you.

I also like the reminder that things are not as they seem... 6:1-6 deals with a wealthy man who seems successful in many ways but feels unsatisfied, and 7:1-6 talks about how difficult times and pain do not always result or bring evil into our life.

There really is a time and a procedure for everything under the sun and the discourse continually comes back to the limitations of humanity - in strength, wisdom and understanding, and even our power to change things. And in direct relation - the reality that God is in and over our lives for good - and when we live in relation to Him there is real meaning and purpose to our existence.

When I read the book - the writer isn't as quick to conlude his arguements in a positive way. Instead he struggles through the topics, and it all seems very gritty.... earthy.

I can appreciate that. His conclusion comes at the end of the book - almost abruptly.

I think that's representative of many of the things we struggle with. Many of our questions or pains will not be dealt with until our own end - and that may come abruptly as well.