On this first Sunday of Advent we emphasize the hope we have in Jesus Christ, the hope that He has come to save us, and the hope He will come again to gather us and keep us together forever. Such advent hope should fill us with at least three things: certainty, mystery, and urgency.
The original “turn or burn” preacher may well have been King Solomon, in his ending to the enduring book of Ecclesiastes. He evoked the fear of God for the fourth time (ref. 3:14, 5:7, 8:12, 12:13), then concluded with a word about the judgment of God. Either turn your life over to the God who gave it to you in the first place, says the Preacher, or face the fiery burn of His judgment at the end of the line.
The godly and giving life we seek is more than mere charity or philanthropy. It is godly giving by godly people, God’s people, which in our day means Christian people. Christian people should be the most giving people on earth because we have been given the greatest gift on earth, a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this text taken from the tenth chapter, we see wisdom where it is wanted most. We are urged to trust God and take godly wisdom into our home, our workplace, our church, and the world.
The color “white” in the Old Testament is highly symbolic. It stands for purity and it represents joy. In verse 8 it implies both and reiterates the previous verse 7. Live a joyful life but do not sin.
Here are Solomon’s resolutions. I’m sure we could come up with 70 or more if we combed the whole chapter, or brought in all the wealth of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. But, in this summary of summaries, we find these three to guarantee a good and godly life.
Do not be vexed by the fact God is not fair, for fairness is not His goal. His glory through the redemption of His people is His goal. He is the sovereign God, working out a master plan far beyond our pay grade to fully understand. This is where true faith comes in.
God will judge how we use our money. God will judge how we treat our family. God will judge the words of our mouths compared to the character of our hearts. God will know whether we lived as true Christians or average Americans.
To be a right worshipper of God is to be constantly preparing for worship with God. This entails living a life guided and guarded by the Spirit of God and the word of God. Go weekly to “the house of God” and be sure to “guard your steps” before, during, and after your visit.
A man of a thousand women may not be the best person to ask for advice on relationships. But Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s confessional and philosophical guide to a better life with God and man. It is filled with wisdom born of terrible mistakes, genuine repentance, renewed faith, and keen observation.
