As I am writing this message, there are a few more days before the last day of the year. In these final remaining days, I always try to review past events of the last twelve months that relate to Hope Chapel. I also try to look forward to and plan for the next twelve months.
As I reflect back on the past events of 2018, there were some memorable events that I was able to gratefully accomplish and or experience, such as the water baptisms earlier in the year, the addition of new members last month also most important, to see and experience the spiritual maturity of many individuals from our Hope Chapel family.
But there were also other events and situations regarding Hope Chapel that happened which was not planed or could not even have been imagined would happen, which did, such as the passing of Tom Furlano and Vi Tanzer. Also experiencing the reality of some of our Hope Chapel family members for many different reasons, not being able any more to regularly attend our services. In addition, the challenges that the two burgles gave us.
It is easy find God’s purpose, and be thankful to God in the things we plan for. But what about those situations that we experience that we do not plan for, such as illness, the death of a loved one or financial setbacks. Keeping God in the center of our, thoughts, emotions and actions can always be the challenging in unexpected situations, but God should never be as a last resort sought after or only acknowledged with importance after the fact.
If we are to have meaning in our lives and purpose in everything we do, even when unexpectedly things happens to us, God needs to be the center of our lives before it happens, in other words the fear of God needs to be the center of who we are and the motivation of what we do. When we fear God, we will respect Him and His Word. We will seek to honor Him in and with everything of lives. One Bible commentator explains the fear of God this way. “The fear of God involves submission to God’s will accepting His purposes during both adversity and prosperity. The one who fears God comes forth with both the wisdom and the righteousness needed to exploit wisdom’s advantage and bring success as a chosen steward of God’s purposes.”
Reading the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon begins by saying, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2. How could Solomon the wisest man who ever lived, who attained the highest level of wealth, power, honor, fame and sensual pleasure this world offers, think, this?
The Fire study Bible commentary of Ecclesiastes gives us the following answer. “Ecclesiastes records Solomon’s somewhat cutting and negative reflections about the hopelessness and emptiness of life apart from God and his Word. Solomon’s main purpose in writing Ecclesiastes may have been to express his regrets before he died by giving to others his personal account of some difficult lessons in life. His teaching may have particularly been aimed at young people, in the hope that they would not make the same mistakes he had. Over and over Solomon points out the complete uselessness of basing our life’s values on earthly possessions and personal ambition.
Does accomplishing your goals and being recognized by others of your accomplishments give your life meaning? Will obtaining all that the world has to offer and considers important, like Solomon, give purpose to your life?
In spite, that Solomon mentions thirty five times in the book of Ecclesiastes that events and things pertaining to life are “Meaningless”. Throughout Ecclesiastes he also gives us several points to meaningful and purposeful lives that fear God, the following are just a few examples.
1) Seek to please God in all you do.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
2) The work that we do and everything we have is God’s gift to us for which we should always respectfully acknowledge Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-14
12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil — this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
3) Honor marital faithfulness, and serve the Lord with all your might.
Ecclesiastes 9:9-10
9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
4) Obeying God’s word is the true indicator of one who “fears”, honors and respects Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
A life lived in fear of God will be a life that will be submitted to God’s will and Word, which will be a meaningful life worth living.
Pastor John
