Post by breakingrote on Feb 16, 2008 1:33:15 GMT -5
Ecc 1:2 "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity."
Amazing how true this is, but what's the point of having a book that labels all things vanity? Now, I'm going to become a bit obvious here and draw the natural conclusion that God wanted us to know: All is vain, without God! So who is this book directed at? Believers who are already aware that life is rather pointless without the Almighty? I don't think so. Although, there is allot to be had from the sayings in this book, I think this book is, in part, directed to the nonbelievers. Just imagine...
If your a nonbeliever, and you happen across this book that suddenly proclaims "EVERYTHING IS POINTLESS, REDUNDANT, AND VAIN!" your gonna wonder why. As you read on you start to realize that this whole life gig is pretty similar to running in circles... but wait! As you read on you arrive at the end and past that you would begin to start reading that there is a point to life! Suddenly, that circle breaks and continues on a line that's forever forward! We were shot down and told that everything in THE WORLD is pointless, but the rest of The Bible provides hope. It preaches ultimate progression and happiness if you decide to follow God.
The way I see it, Ecclesiastes is, in part, about bringing the nonbeliever to the revelation that he needs God. It shows him that "all is vanity" in a very clear way, but what does this book do for us?
Ecclesiastes shows us clearly that if something is separate from God it's vanity. However, because something is vain doesn't necessarily mean that it's sin. The world thrives in that glorious circle of theirs and sometimes we gotta jump right in there with them to pull them on out. While we're in that circle are we sinning? I'm not so sure that we are. I'm pretty sure we can meet them where they are. Is running in that circle for a brief time progressive? Well, in a way, yes, it is; because we're there (hopefully) to jump into that circle occasionally and see if we can hook a little fishy swimming with the rest!
Ecclesiastes has several a function. One of those is a reminder that without God all is vanity (for the believer), and another is the realization of this instead. There's more, but I won't get into it, because the point of this presentation was to illustrate the superficial function of the book of Ecclesiastes. Now that this is complete remember the theme to this post and...
Remember to go fishing every once and awhile. We must feed the gates of heaven!
Amazing how true this is, but what's the point of having a book that labels all things vanity? Now, I'm going to become a bit obvious here and draw the natural conclusion that God wanted us to know: All is vain, without God! So who is this book directed at? Believers who are already aware that life is rather pointless without the Almighty? I don't think so. Although, there is allot to be had from the sayings in this book, I think this book is, in part, directed to the nonbelievers. Just imagine...
If your a nonbeliever, and you happen across this book that suddenly proclaims "EVERYTHING IS POINTLESS, REDUNDANT, AND VAIN!" your gonna wonder why. As you read on you start to realize that this whole life gig is pretty similar to running in circles... but wait! As you read on you arrive at the end and past that you would begin to start reading that there is a point to life! Suddenly, that circle breaks and continues on a line that's forever forward! We were shot down and told that everything in THE WORLD is pointless, but the rest of The Bible provides hope. It preaches ultimate progression and happiness if you decide to follow God.
The way I see it, Ecclesiastes is, in part, about bringing the nonbeliever to the revelation that he needs God. It shows him that "all is vanity" in a very clear way, but what does this book do for us?
Ecclesiastes shows us clearly that if something is separate from God it's vanity. However, because something is vain doesn't necessarily mean that it's sin. The world thrives in that glorious circle of theirs and sometimes we gotta jump right in there with them to pull them on out. While we're in that circle are we sinning? I'm not so sure that we are. I'm pretty sure we can meet them where they are. Is running in that circle for a brief time progressive? Well, in a way, yes, it is; because we're there (hopefully) to jump into that circle occasionally and see if we can hook a little fishy swimming with the rest!
Ecclesiastes has several a function. One of those is a reminder that without God all is vanity (for the believer), and another is the realization of this instead. There's more, but I won't get into it, because the point of this presentation was to illustrate the superficial function of the book of Ecclesiastes. Now that this is complete remember the theme to this post and...
Remember to go fishing every once and awhile. We must feed the gates of heaven!