Ecclesiastes 3

"What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is a gift of God. 


"I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it, God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past." Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

The above verses are so jammed packed with pearls, it's hard to know where to begin. The following are just a few points that jumped out at me and my thoughts thereon.


"He has made everything beautiful in its time"!

• God has made everything. He created; It did not evolve
• We can find beauty in everything
• Every time has beauty
• In its time there is beauty

There is beauty in youth. There is beauty in being old. The old have enjoyed the beauty of their youth, however the youth have not experienced the beauty of being old. Maybe if the old didn't try and hold onto their youth, but enjoyed the beauty of their agedness, the youth would have greater respect for the aged.


"He has put eternity in their hearts"!

• Is that like the "God shaped hole" in our hearts, that nothing else will fill?

Everyone is searching for answers. Some may have not even considered the question, but they are still on the same quest. What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? What happens when I die? Some settle for lies; happy is the man who finds The Way, The Truth and The Life!

I know where I will spend eternity! Do you?


"whatever God does, it shall be forever"!

• It is the height of arrogance to believe that mankind can destroy the earth or save it.
• Man is not god! Only God is God!
• Nothing that man does is eternal. That's why we find "ruins" of past civilizations. 

If you listen to the experts you will find their answers are based on man's interpretations of incomplete and faulty data and erroneous conclusions of other men. Not until an expert seeks the Creator will he understand the creation and man's role therein.


"men should fear before Him"!

• Why is man afraid of everything but God?
• Why do we pay to be made afraid?

Fear related expenditures are off the charts! We are either paying for Hollywood to scare us or paying a doctor to prescribe something for our irrational fears. Alarm systems, big dogs or at least dogs with big barks, even mechanical dogs to scare away intruders without the mess, guns, fences, self-defense classes, ball bats; just to name a few of man's efforts to be less fearful. Fear of failure; fear of crowds; fear of flying; fear of being alone; and the list goes on and on. Oh, and I won't go into Zombies!

Jesus said, "Fear not!"  He doesn't want us to live in fear of the world and its ruler. We are to cast our cares on Him, because He cares for us. The only fear a Christian should have is fear of God. That is healthy and shows our love and respect for Him!

However, one who is living without Jesus should be very afraid!

Father God, thank You for sacrificing Your Son for our redemption. Thank you for Your Word through which we may have knowledge and wisdom in our lives! Thank You for putting eternity in our hearts so that we would have a desire to know You and Your love! Thank You for the beauty in our world which testifies to Your power and goodness. Thank You for all You are doing everyday to redeem Your Church! We give You glory and praise!

Even so - MARANATHA!