I always thought Ecclesiastes was like Proverbs. That's probably because of the "to every time there is a season. . ." passage. So when a friend of mine read Ecclesiastes from "The Message," I wasn't prepared for her reaction.
Her first comment was, "It made no sense." I tried to get her to explain that. She couldn't. She just kept saying things like "It's so negative. He just keeps saying everything is smoke. It makes no sense." Finally in desperation, she said, "You read it, and see if it makes sense to you."
Now I know a nudge from the Holy Spirit when I see one. So I went the next day and started reading. She was right. It was negative. It didn't seem to fit in the Bible at all. Depressing is a word that comes to mind.
Throughout the whole book, the writer talks about life as smoke, an illusion. He says it's pointless because all you do is work and work and then you die. What is the point?
At first, I was as taken aback as my friend, but as I kept reading, I realized what he was really saying. Life lived by the world's standards of success and fulfillment IS smoke. It's an illusion, and the saddest thing in the whole world is to get to the end before you realize that.
I belong to several writing groups ? Christian ones mainly. As January rolled around several groups talked about the individual's goals for this year. I will never forget one post. It read simply:
My only goal this year is to get this silly novel rewritten and published.
In light of what I now see through Ecclesiastes, this is a tragic statement. This person is focused totally on the smoke. She believes that once her novel is published, then life will really begin. She is not excited about the prospects of learning from the rewrites or even the connections with other people she may make in the publishing process. In short when and if she publishes her "silly novel," I'm quite sure she will be left asking the Anthony Robbins' question: "Is this all there is?"
At that point she may think that when she gets two books published, THEN life will really start happening. It's such a lie. It's such a trap. And yet, it's a trap many, many people are living in today.
My friend asked, "How do you make sure you're not just going for the smoke?" To which I said, "Make the right things important, and the right 'things' aren't things ? they are people."
So often in our headlong rush to get the smoke, we fail to take notice of those weary travelers on life's road with us who need our help-emotional, spiritual, and/or physical. We have the means and the opportunity to help them, yet we are so focused on getting the smoke that we pass up that chance completely.
Because of the lesson of Ecclesiastes, I now know that when I get to Heaven, my awards and accomplishments will amount to water through a sieve. The only thing that will be real is the love I have extended and to how many people I have extended it. Everything else is just smoke.
Copyright 2005, Staci Stallings
Need more inspiration? Sign up for the monthly newsletter by Staci Stallings, the author of this article. Insights, quotes, inspiration and even a free novel by Staci sent two chapters at a time! To sign up, send a blank email to: newsletter@stacistallings.com You'll feel better for the experience!
kitchen deep cleaning Deerfield ..Are you looking for a way to improve your accuracy... Read More
You know that the Bible tells us a lot about... Read More
In the game of billiards there are two things you... Read More
The fundamental aim of spiritual study is to get facts... Read More
Following are 17 questions that can be used as a... Read More
*Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text... Read More
???Now is the time for all good men to come... Read More
As I sat down today to write this article, I... Read More
The possibility of almost 400 Old Testament prophesies coming to... Read More
As we walk these halls of Life viewing the world... Read More
For the past several years I have struggled with getting... Read More
Hello, My name is Mellody Davis and here is my... Read More
What does the story of your life say about you?... Read More
Do you ever feel that what you read in some... Read More
While there are alot of warnings and admonishments regarding what... Read More
I have discovered as I grow older in Christ Jesus... Read More
Would you like an exciting and wonder-full resolution for the... Read More
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,... Read More
In Corrogue I am finding it's a wonderful life.Let me... Read More
Recently, I received a postcard from Ireland. Without reading the... Read More
In the movie "Forest Gump" we see Forest succeed in... Read More
Someone asked me the other day what was the most... Read More
His name sounds as Finn. He has beautiful blue eyes... Read More
Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one single... Read More
Spiritual healing of the sick in Christ has many Christians... Read More
interior house cleaning Highland Park ..In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the... Read More
Most of us have heard talk or have read something... Read More
I have a big mouth. If you have read my... Read More
Talked to an interesting person today at a coffee shop,... Read More
If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to... Read More
Most of us know that the universe - God's universe... Read More
For we do not have a high priest who is... Read More
Among those arriving to the stadium early were two old... Read More
God, what a wonderful spirit. He, is our ever present... Read More
We have to go through some unfortunate experiences sometimes in... Read More
Ecclesiasts 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and... Read More
Let us face reality squarely in the face by acknowledging... Read More
Five verses specify that we are to live by faith.... Read More
In the last 2 weeks or so, I have been... Read More
The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:The center of our... Read More
"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More
What is a Christian? According to The American Heritage? Dictionary... Read More
The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as... Read More
I was originally brought up Catholic, at the insistence of... Read More
In Corrogue it is frosty.The ramp into our "acre of... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
Recently I was watching a re-run of "Everybody Loves Raymond".... Read More
Last month, one of my readers needed a new car.... Read More
Don't be confused that a saint is a religious leader... Read More
Do you know where your current path is taking you?Education,... Read More
Spirituality |