"Beginning of the Year"(Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)

 

Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

 

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon.  He experienced many good and bad things in life. He wrote about these experiences and came up with a profound conclusion. No matter what our place is or how we'll we have done, we all have the same destiny.  We will all die. A peasant and a king have the same end. They will die. Their positions, experience, friends cannot save them from death.

 

Our lives are all about perspective. Ants might be pleased with crumbs dropped on the floor whereas the person who spilled the crumbs might think nothing of it. Whoever had a good 2022 might find someone who had a terrible 2022. Yet, both lived through them and will face 2023 with good and bad events. The same bad events we experienced might also bring us to good events. However, if we are dead, we have no more hope that events will change from bad to good.

 

But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Ecclesiastes 9:4 ESV

 

The author’s sentiment that it is better to be alive than dead holds much truth to it. Even though a lion is a powerful animal and in a fight against a dog, a lion would be the victor, a dead lion is not much good. In fact, the author points out that a living dog is much better off than a dead lion. Much the same, a living Christian is better off than a dead Christian. By dead Christian, we mean spiritual dead.

 

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV

 

Living Christians know that Jesus will return and there is an afterlife.  Dead Christians are not aware of the consequences that await them. They either are unaware or do not care. Those Christians who believe that they have nothing more to do because they are saved are dead.

 

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:7, 9 ESV

 

Those Christians who participate in Jesus' ministry are alive. Enjoying those small things that we have and those who are with us. Yet, even more important is to strengthen our relationship with God.

 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

 

If we live our lives up with God's plans, we can find success.  This way we can achieve the joyful life that God wants us to live by aligning our lives with His kingdom plans and word.

 

2023-01-01 Worship songs

Goodness Of God 주님의 선하심

Hosanna 호산나

Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)