Finding Value in Ecclesiastes

As we continue to introduce the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, we want to discuss some reasons why this book—with its uniquely negative tone, is so valuable to explore and internalize today.  The first specific reason it’s good to dig into this book is because—it helps us persevere in trials.  Some might think, “We all know that life is hard—we don’t need a weekly reminder of it from the pulpit.”  We DO all mentally apprehend that life is hard, but I’ve met very few believers who have internalized that truth in a way that encourages them when they are experiencing the trials of life.

If a person has truly internalized that life is not supposed to be easy and afflictions are the norm, then when tragedy strikes—their high school honor student is “senselessly” killed or crippled in an accident with a drunk driver— they will be far less likely to respond by asking, “Why me?”  They already know—life is full of tragedy and no one should expect to be exempted from it.  Internalizing the truth of Ecclesiastes in times of trial will insulate us from thinking, “This shouldn’t be happening to me” and “It just isn’t fair.”  People who’ve really internalized these truths won’t go to those places—at least, not for long because they will know that life isn’t fair and will more likely ask “why shouldn’t this be happening to me.”  They won’t react to tragedy by being angry with God or become embittered for the rest of their life as so many people do who have been beat up by life. 

One huge reason many of us DO feel compelled to respond that way to pain is because in our prosperity and with our access to so many things designed to decrease our pain and suffering and increase our comfort-- we come to believe the lies of a prosperous culture like:  “Life just shouldn’t be this hard!”  People in Haiti don’t say that.  “Suffering is an anomaly—life is typically very good with only brief stretches of pain”—not for most of the world it’s not and we have no right to expect that.  Or worst of all, “I don’t deserve this.”  Ecclesiastes and the wisdom literature blow those false assumptions to smithereens.  When we internalize that life really IS hard—and for some people—MUCH of their life is hard—and that suffering is not an anomaly, but can be, and often is, an ever-present companion.  Finally, when we internalize the truth that everyone deserves to suffer far more than we do, those lies lose their power to control and embitter us in times of trial.

We live in a culture where suffering is seen as unusual—an infrequent visitor.  According to the Bible, THAT’S the anomaly!  The reality check the book of Ecclesiastes gives us is essential for believers who live in an increasingly adversarial culture where religious persecution is almost certain in our future.  If you are skeptical of that, who even five years ago would have guessed that our country would be arguing about the definition of marriage?  Our national descent into moral depravity has happened very rapidly.  Who knows what the church may be confronted with in five more years?  It’s always healthy for God’s people to have a Biblical theology of suffering.  In the coming years, it may very well be necessary in order to remain faithful to God.  If, when in times of suffering, we can process that in part by thinking, “God said it would be this way,” we’ll be much more able to honor God and remain faithful in times of trial.