Jan 7, 2024 "Well Lived Life" ( Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, 3:1-3, 5:18; Genesis 2:18-19)

 

Well Lived Life

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

 

Living well will be different for different people. We need to determine what the life would look like to give a goal. Of course, depending on our situation, we might need to respond differently.  

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 ESV

[1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: [2] a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; [3] a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 

We can make a life beautiful by responding appropriately to God's plans. But working hard and accomplishing much will not get us satisfaction.

 

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 ESV

[10] And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. [11] Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

 

Hard work and success will not make us happy in the long run. We need to work but also take enjoyment in our work and it's fruits.  

 

Ecclesiastes 5:18 ESV

[18] Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.  

 

God created us to work to be a part of His creation. In fact, God had Adam name the animals to share in the responsibility of creation.   

 

Genesis 2:18-19 ESV

[18] Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” [19] Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.  

 

Life has hardship and pain which we will experience. There is a beauty in this suffering and growth. The changing season can be difficult and brings endings, necessary endings. This beauty is in the cycle that allows for creation to peak and wain, to grow and then to recede. Nothing can stay the same. That is not God's plan in creation.

 

We should view the future as Christmas presents. There should be a zeal for life and excitement about how God will be with us and get us through these challenges.  

 

We can be grateful when we understand who created us and has a plan for us.

 

Where we live is the Kingdom of God. If God is with us, wherever we go is the Kingdom of God. The same is true if God is not with you, then wherever you go, the Kingdom of God is not there.  

• Good Grace

• Goodness Of God
• Before the throne of God above

“Meaning of Life for Christians” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2:10-11, 9:1-2, 3:11-13)

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author uses the word meaningless, but the original word(hevel) would be closer to smoke or a vapor that disappears when you try to catch it.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV

The author understand that nothing happens in our timing but rather God's timing.  God's timing is for everything and we do not know God's timing. This is why our lives are full of smoke we cannot grasp.

And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 ESV

The author realizes that even after accomplishing great things, it did not amount to much. Successful people don't always have as much happiness as other people. Many famous celebrities are miserable. Getting a better job does not mean you will be happier. The happiness is fleeting. 

The author tells us life is hard. There is no guarantee that our lives will be successful or richer than others who sin or do not acknowledge God.

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 ESV

The author does give us hope.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV

God will fulfill everything He has set out. If our lives are aligned with God's plans, we will do well. Our lives are full of meaninglessness. We cannot understand all of God's ways, and we do not have to. Worrying about things that we cannot control is not smart and will only rob us of joy. Letting God be God and enjoying God's greatness is enough. We can do good and enjoy our lives.

By doing good things, we live in a target rich environment. We can reconcile what needs to be fixed. We can help those who are in need and serve others.

By enjoying life, we can work hard and enjoy the fruits of our labour. We can enjoy the little things in our life. Family, friendship, food, good weather, health are those little things we can enjoy. All we need to do is to open our eyes of heart to experience God's miracle and God's love every single day. 

also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV

 

• Rock Of Ages 만세 반석 열리니
• I Will Run To You 주 말씀 향하여 (하늘의 나는 새도)
• Through It All 영원한 생명의 주님

"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)

"Waiting for God's Timing"(Ecclesiastes 3:1-15)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

 God is able in everything and reigns over everything. We can all agree with this statement, but we have to remember that this really does mean everything in our lives as well. In Ecclesiastes when the author talks about there is a time to plant and a time to uproot, he is talking about what God is doing through us. God's creation duties continue today, and He uses us in this continuation of creation.

Sometimes we might put all our effort into some project which doesn't amount to much. However, in God's timing, the project can end successfully and quickly. We need to wait for God's timing if we are going to be successful and not rush a conclusion that God has not given.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

God has put an eternity in our heart. As Christians, we understand that our life will be eternally lived out in Heaven with Jesus.

In the world, before death, everything is meaningless. In fact, compared to death, all other problems are nothing. Yet, for Christians, death is not the end for us. In fact, it is a new start for for those who believe and follow Jesus.

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.

Ecclesiastes 3:2 ESV

Knowing that we have an eternity in front of us, there is no need for us to fear death like non-Christians.

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 ESV

Man has a burden with work. Yet God has given us a gift.

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good if they live; also, that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 ESV

God wants us to work. Yes, we have to work hard to survive, but God provides a way for us to be blessed.  So why do some suffer so much? Because we live in a broken world, we have hardships in we work. Nevertheless, God allows us to find satisfaction in our work and the ability to overcome our work.

The last thing we must remember is that God gave his Son so that we would be blessed.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 ESV

Jesus did not come to punish the world, but he came to save all of us. His main point of His ministry was to bring the new kingdom to Earth. He came to save wicked people.  He came to bring bad people over to the God. He came to bring salvation to any who would confess their sin and put their faith in Him to save them.

Worrying about the future does not help. We don't know what the future will bring, but we can find comfort that God allow events in our lives to happen because it was best for us. It might not seem like that at the time when problems happen, but eventually it will be best for us. Let us put our trust in God and understand that all things happen for a reason in a season.