Ecclesiastes 6:10–7:14

Bringing the sermon home:

Hebrews 2:15 declares that Jesus came to “deliver all those who, through fear of death, were subject to lifelong slavery”. But if we never deal with the problem of our impending death, we will never be set free from our enslavement to that fear. Those who try the hardest to never think about death show themselves to be enslaved by the fear of death, compelled by their harsh taskmaster to do everything they can to maximize pleasure before it’s too late, and to shun wisdom.

In contrast, the wise hear and heed the rebuke of the grave. Grief and sorrow teach us the value of things, showing us what really matters and what really satisfies. Funerals teach us to appreciate life as a precious gift from God and to be genuinely satisfied with whatever good things may come, knowing that this life is not about worldly, fleeting pleasures.

Verses 7–10 of chapter 7 speak of the wisdom of being patient in our present circumstances, specifically calling out nostalgia as unwise. Longing for the past is often just a form of grumbling about the present, failing to trust that God is still at work in and through our lives.

Verses 11–14 then speak of the wisdom of surrendering our need for answers regarding what God is doing.

May God grant us the wisdom to see what really matters in life, and the willingness to help others around us heed that same wisdom. May He also keep us from being hindered by looking backward on former days, so that we may look forward, fully engaged with what He is doing through us right now.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

(See follow-up article here.)