Ecclesiastes - Working God's Way

As I prepare to share this [long and personal] post, my heart’s desire is to remind anyone reading that God’s way is the best way to live. My heart is truly broken over the state of our world right now - how the virus is spreading and how people are suffering in so many ways. While I am crushed over this reality, I am also eager to glean from the Lord in this time. I realize that through pain, suffering, and even isolation, He can bring restoration and Godly change that is so necessary.

THE STORY

Today as I was bombarded with notifications regarding an announcement about school closures, I was deeply impacted. But, not in the sense you’d expect. Though I am completely dedicated to serving my students and staff members through working unto the Lord, my job is no longer my everything. Many years ago, I found that I simply cannot be everything to everyone - shocking I know. The thing is, even though I have come a long way in my teaching career, I have admittedly had more stress this year that I “should” as a 10th year teacher. I’ve carried burdens I should not have carried. I’ve let my mind wander and stress trying to find the best opportunities for my students only to be reminded that it’s not all up to me. I worked harder and came up with new ideas only to be left feeling drained and absolutely overwhelmed trying to maintain them. For the past several months of this school year I have both struggled and been learning from the Lord to cast my worries and cares on Him. To be totally honest here, I began to have hard feelings for “work”. NOT my specific position. Not my classes. Certainly not my students or co-workers. But “work” as we know it here in the US.

About 5 years ago, God began stirring in my heart what He intended for “work” to be. And though we are created to work with our hands and “tend our fields” (serve and exert effort where He has placed us), we were not created to be completely drained and exhausted in every way at the end of each day only living to hope that Saturday we may get a bit of rest. I say “may” here because that ultimately depends on if we left the day open for sabbath, chose to not see the friends we haven’t seen in a month, go celebrate a loved one's birthday, clean the house, or _____. Christ intended for us to work to provide for what we (and our families and neighbors) NEED. Plainly speaking - people were to literally grow crops, work trades that were necessary for functional life, and serve one another by helping and sharing gifts and talents willingly. Effort, sweat, and hard work are not bad things, but the way we as Americans (I say this to hone the scope) strive to be the best, climb the ladder, earn more, produce faster, sell to further places is 1. Not healthy and 2. Not what God intends for us.

Where does this tie into teaching, the quarantine, and Ecclesiastes?

My heart is broken for the suffering that is going on in the world, but I’m just going to put it out there - I am enjoying this time working from home. No, things are not super convenient. Yes, I get lonely and bored at times. No, teaching online, especially to students with special needs, is not ideal. BUT I have needed a break. A slow down. And to be honest, I knew it had to be forced - both for me individually and for “school” as we know it. As I mentioned, this year has been tough. I found myself think-praying as I like to call it and asking God, “Lord, how can this change? How can things be different? Is it wrong to not want to spend the majority of my day in a formal institution? Is it OK to love what I do but want a change? Can “school” be different?” And here we are. Here I am. Able to sleep past 5:15am and slowly start my day the right way - with quiet time. Have the literal quiet space I need to create the “from-scratch” lessons that I have been making for 10 years. Take short breaks outside to get fresh air and play with my pup. How in the world could this have happened without a forced quarantine? Now, I am not going to get into the structure of the educational system right now, but I do believe that if law-makers and even individual districts take this seriously and look at the big picture, they can make wise, HEALTHY changes for everyone. My thoughts? What about teaching from home one day a week? What about professional development being remote? The districts would save money. Oh the possibilities are truly endless! I pray that good change is made.

And that is where Ecclesiastes comes in. As I was receiving the countless messages about not returning to school this year, I was honestly relieved to know a final decision was made and also stirred to think through what “going back to normal” would look like. The past few days this question has been on my mind. I’ve had a longing for things to stay quiet and less hurried. Where expectations of plans and events and deadlines literally can’t happen because everyone is forced to be at home. Do I miss my friends, family, and students - absolutely. But again, does it have to go back to “life as we know it”? As I began to spiral into self-pity and silent whining to God, He led me to read Ecclesiastes. Boy is it relevant to “life as we know it”.

If you made it this far, it's time for the actual devotional :)

THE DEVOTIONAL

Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, the wisest man in the world, who had everything he could have ever dreamed of. Solomon made it to the end of his life and realized it was all “worthless” in the scheme of eternity with the Lord. The object here is to see how a perspective shift in our lives can benefit us ETERNALLY and in return how we can live out the abundant life God promised us (John 10:10). Below are the verses that stood out to me while reading and also my notes on what we can learn from each of the 3 chapters. Welcome to my personal Bible Time from today!

CHAPTER 1

V. 3 What do people get for all their hard work?

V. 8 No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

*We have allowed our culture to engrain in us the need for MORE. Desiring to make things “better” is great, but only if and when prompted and led by God.

V. 16-18 More wisdom and knowledge = more grief and sorrow.

*It all depends on who writes the definition! I.e. “Wisdom” is it Godly or worldly?

CHAPTER 2

V. 1 The “good things in life” are meaningless.

*What are the “good things in life”? See below...

V. 2 Laughing (fun)

V. 3 Wine (partying)

V. 4 Big homes, gardens, etc. (material possessions)

V. 8 Money (riches, wealth)

V. 8 Singers (entertainment)

V. 9 Greatest king (power, rule, authority)

V. 10 Anything he wanted was at the tip of his fingers

V. 10 Hard-work

V. 11 “But as I (Solomon) looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”

V. 12 Wisdom > Foolishness just as Light > Darkness

V. 19 Successors - wise or foolish? What will they do with my fruits?

V. 22 Reward for hard work - pain, grief, no rest.

V. 24 The answer to hard work? Eat and drink - enjoy the fruits of your labor and find satisfaction in work - this is from the HAND OF GOD.

V. 25 Who can eat or ENJOY ANYTHING apart from Him?

*This changes our viewpoint by looking at the futility of everything apart from God. It reveals our perspectives, priorities, views on work. We are to find JOY in working. What does “apart from Him” mean?

V. 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please Him.

*We hear Solomon saying BOTH that it is all meaningless and also that we should find satisfaction in our work. How is this possible? ONLY with God. Apart from God (eternal) there is no point really. As we work unto the Lord, we are doing what He created us to do. We are pleasing Him and we can be satisfied in His love.

CHAPTER 3

A time for everything.

V. 6 A time to keep and a time to throw away.

*Sorting out what is important. Not just in our closets but in our hearts, our priorities, our families, and our work.

V. 9 Hard work - what do we get from it?

*This is at least the 3rd time this question is asked in the book so far!

V. 10-11 God has given us all different work. In every season. He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in our hearts, BUT people can’t see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

*We all have a job to do that is beautiful and worthwhile in and for His kingdom, but we are limited in our vision as humans. But, it does not have to stop there; that is where the Holy Spirit comes in. We can ask Him to reveal to us God’s perspective. No, we will not see things completely clearly but we will have a glimpse of God’s plan (1 Corinthians 13:12) when we ask the Holy Spirit for insight.

V. 12 There is nothing better than for people to be HAPPY and ENJOY the fruits of their labor = A GIFT FROM GOD.

*When we see the fruit of our labor (in a job, in parenting, in serving) as a GIFT, it changes us. It gives us a thankful heart instead of a bitter, overworked one. We must stop and savor that gift, not letting the things of the world get in the way. Here, my mind is starting to grasp what “going back to normal” may look like.

V. 14 God’s purpose - people should fear Him.

*Meaning we should LIVE TO PLEASE HIM. Take Him seriously. Revere Him. Count Him as worthy of all of our time and effort.

V. 17 God is the judge and He WILL judge all.

*Government, authority. All means ALL.

V. 18 God allows people to continue in sin so they can see for themselves they are worth nothing more than animals (without Him).

*We all have a CHOICE. A choice to live a life ruled by sin or a life free from sin, serving God.

Though this one is a bit different (and much longer!) I hope that it encouraged you. By giving personal insight, I hope that you can see that you are not alone in your processing through the changes this isolation has caused (some in good ways). Mostly, I desire for all of us to press into God and ask Him what HE WANTS for our lives, both in and out of this forced slow down.