Ecclesiastes 3

‘Heavy’ is the feeling in my heart whenever I read the book of Ecclesiastes.

Especially the opening words of David, ‘Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.’ makes me ask myself is life really that gloomy?

But after sometime and after pondering over the facts written in this book, I began to see a light in this gloomy world, the light that God shines into the hearts of those who believe in His Name.

Let’s read today’s chapter to see this light that God wants to shine into our hearts.

Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes 3

God Is In Control Of All Things

Reading through verses 1 to 8, we realize that there is a time for everything on earth whether be it good or bad.

The light that we should see in this fact is, there is always a balance in all things, i.e. we won’t suffer or go through something miserable for a long time, for the time of peace and happiness will soon come to us. But the reverse will also apply.

Job knew this fact and praised God for it,

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The

LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:21 (ESV)

It is inevitable that we will be sad, sorrowful, or disheartened whenever we meet with misfortunes, but we must not let these setbacks pull us down the pit, for we have a Supreme God who is our Father, and He can feel how we feel (ref. Hebrews 4:15).

Our God is the Creator and Author of all things, therefore He is in control; and He will definitely make all things beautiful in its appointed times (ref. v11). So we just have to trust in the Lord for all things and wait patiently.

When people suffer turmoil, they grumble at God for allowing all these things to happen to man, but little does man know that the sufferings on earth is but short-lived, whereas the eternal bliss that God has prepared for man is everlasting.

Therefore we must endure the pain that comes to us, for it is a testing that can strengthen us spiritually, and also such trials can give us understanding of our nature and our need to rely on the Almighty Creator.

The Low Physical Value Of Man

The flesh of man is not much different from that of animals’. This statement, which is derived from vv 18 to 20, seems to bring a gloomy dark cloud over our heads again.

I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

Ecclesiastes 3:18-20 (ESV)

These words tell us the fact that man’s physical composition and animals’ are of no difference, for we were all made from dust, and the fate of both man and animals are returning to the dust after we past on.

But let us who are born of water and the spirit raise our hands over our heads to pierce through this dark cloud and allow the light of Christ to shine through into our hearts.

For there is really nothing that we need to long for strongly or desire dearly in this world, for if we hang on strongly to the pleasures and the riches of this world for the sake of our flesh, it will soon come to nothing.

The time we have on earth is short and the pursuits of all these pleasures and riches will wear off our time that we need in seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Indeed we who are born of water and the spirit, the kingdom of God is opened to us, we are sure that when we die, our spirit will return to God, and we shall spend eternity with Him in His abode.

So, as I’ve said that Ecclesiastes sort of bring some heaviness to my heart, but it is through these facts that we can also see the light of hope from God that is shining through to us.

May God continue to give us wisdom to see the hope He has prepared for us as we lead our life on earth.

Shalom!