What Really Matters? Ecc. 7

I digress for a moment to delve into a passage in Ecclesiastes 7.  Our family is still in Acts, but with the recent storm, I've not been able to post anything new, and meanwhile, a study in Ecclesiastes has been taking place as well.  A few points of fresh reminder is what really stood out, worth of comment relevant to today.

An overall theme here, as well as in Proverbs, is that the fool simply will not heed good advice from the wise; in fact, the fool scoffs, mocks, and laughs at the very suggestion.  This really should not surprise us today, it has happened since long before us.

In light of that, it is just as foolish to get angry over the actions of fools, and we often tend to think that times used to be better than they are today, or we hearken back to the "good ole days".  Solomon here, under inspiration of God, says that the wise do not think in this manner.  There NEVER HAVE been those "good ole days". 

Backing up, verses 7-8 talk of oppression and bribes, with politics in mind and as the context.  We should never, ever be surprised at the corrupt activity of politicians.  This, too, is nothing new under the sun, and to be concerned about it is chasing after the wind, to borrow from this author.  To be angry about political corruptness is to be extremely naive.

Overall, what we see here is that it is good to consider one's mortality, to add some seriousness to life.  One's reputation still matters, or it should, and that cannot be solidified until death.  That is, we can still mess up a good reputation while we are alive.  Morbid thought perhaps, but very practically true.

The chapter closes with a great summary/theological statement.  God made men upright (righteous, sinless; up to chapter 7, Solomon has referred back to Adam at least three times).  Men chose to seek another way. 

If we can all remember that day in and day out, we deal with each other, and we are each still sinners, maybe we'll be a bit more bearing of one another.  Then again, we may simply be naive, and be indignant at each other's behavior, assuming that "it never used to be like this."  Believers never used to act like this.  Oh, yes they did.  God says to think otherwise is wrong, foolish, actually.

Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator