What really matters?

The writer of Ecclesiastes writes about this life in a way many of us can relate to at various times in our lives.  "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." That's how the first chapter of Ecclesiastes begins and that sentiment is repeated often throughout the entire book.

As a person of melancholy temperment it is very easy for me sometimes to become "Ecclesiastic"(my word). Most people I believe want to feel like their life is not meaningless. In that vein then we must answer the question, what really matters? In chapter 3 Ecclesiastes offers this familar passage.

A Time for Everything

      1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

      2A time to give birth and a time to die;
            A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

      3A time to kill and a time to heal;
            A time to tear down and a time to build up.

      4A time to weep and a time to laugh;
            A time to mourn and a time to dance.

      5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
            A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

      6A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
            A time to keep and a time to throw away.

      7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
            A time to be silent and a time to speak.

      8A time to love and a time to hate;
            A time for war and a time for peace.

God has ordained and set forth all of the natural cycles that we experience in life including death. To change those cycles is not within our ability nor is it our responsibility. What is ours to impact is how we live this life we have been given. That is another paradox of the Christian life. Jesus says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." So Jesus wants to provide an abundant life for us and because of that it would be an affront to Him if we do not enjoy the blessings and good He has given us.

Paul tells us in Colossians 3 1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.…

What we need to come to understand and integrate into our lives is that these are not opposing concepts but rather complimentary ones. There is nothing at all wrong with living this life and enjoying the things and people God has blessed us with. Yet our minds should be set on what is above, on the blessings we have through Christ in the heavenly realm and in eternity.

So as the writer says there is a time to live and a time to die, a time to sow and a time to reap. May we all find a way to balance these things in our own lives, that as we live this life we do it in such a way, sowing seeds into eternity, that when the time to die has come, we will reap the true reward of this life, and this would be the eternal testimony of our lives:

Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.