A Season For.... What the heck?

Let me preface this blog post by saying that I am not a very "intellectual translator". I am an avid reader, but you usually will not find me sitting around reading Hemingway, Dickens, or Shakespeare. Old English is hard for me to understand and many college English reports have driven me away from "reading in between the lines". Thou shalt not force thy hand to script what thy does not understand, Professor.

With that being said, I have always been taught and understood the importance of interpreting scripture. Unlike reading Ulysses however, I enjoy dissecting the words of the Bible.

This week, I began reading one of my "scripture of the day" websites. The familiar passage was Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 " There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..." etc.

I read the passage with a smile, enjoying how much it made sense. There are many seasons in life and we experience them all in their own time.. How comforting... and then... what the heck? Have you ever read the book of Ecclesiastes? I mean the whole thing. If not, you should open your Old Testament and start reading on this fine Thursday morning.

The book is written by the wisest man in Jerusalem (Solomon), opening with "Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Talk about a pity party). He continues to repeat himself stating that wealth is vanity, poverty is vanity, youth is vanity, old age is vanity, food is vanity, etc, etc, etc. Everything that happens on this earth is repetitive and "under the sun". He built houses and planted vineyards; made gardens and parks; owned more herds than anyone in Jerusalem, amasses silver and gold, held the treasure of kings and provinces. He said "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure."

He got everything he wanted and he still was not happy.

Although reading the book of Ecclesiastes can be quite the downer, sometimes our self-pity causes us to relate a bit. "Why am I working every day of my life for a paycheck? Why am I trying to be a good person if my neighbor is cheating to get ahead? Why me? Why? Why? What's the point?"

Before you sign up for Solomon's pity party... I think it would be refreshing to "read between the lines".

1. Life lived selfishly and without God is "meaningless".

Solomon tried to finding the "meaning of life" in materialistic items on earth ("under the sun"). He attempted to get everything that HE wanted... and he did.

This just goes to prove that no matter how "full" you think your bank account, career path, social life, or home is.. sanctification does not come from earthly things. Houses can be torn down, kingdoms can be concurred, and riches can be spent or lost. It also shows that when we live our lives for ourselves, we will never be fully happy. But when we live our lives for God, we will have a purpose and satisfaction when we become united with Him in Heaven.

Everything minus God is nothing.

2. We should live our lives as a giver, not a taker.

Solomon believed that if he became the wisest and richest man in the world, he would be happy. If only he became the wisest man in the world, he would have the intelligence to figure out why he wasn't satisfied. The more he acquired, the more he thought he would be content.

Instead he ended up hating his life. He received everything he should ever imagine.. but he never gave love, gave money to the poor, built houses for others, or shared his vineyards with the kingdom.

Do you think things would be different if He followed the commandment Jesus later tells us to give instead of receive?

3. We're meant to follow God's commandments (even Solomon agrees)

Our problem is that we often spend so much time trying to figure out life (through wisdom), straighten out life (through work), before actually getting around to enjoying life (through grace).

Just like my parents used to make me do my homework and punish me if I did not get home in time, they also wanted to have a meaningful relationship with me. We had rules to follow so I would be productive, safe, and kind to others... but my parents were always there for me to make memories, show me grace and forgiveness, and love me through everything.

God is the same way. He wants us to live our lives simply, enjoying the relationships and blessings he gives us, but it is also important to remember that without Him, everything really would be "meaningless".