Ecclesiastes 3:9-15, Romans 8:28

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) Ecclesiastes 3:9-15, Romans 8:28

Eccl. 3:9-10 What profit does a person accomplish from laboring? I have seen the grind God has given to people as vocations.

In these two verses, Solomon uses four different words having to do with work. What does a man profit in the work he is working? The first is work as in create, craft, fashion, make. The second is the hard laboring, the toiling. And in v. 10, the work as in occupation or business, and the exercising is that humble embracing of the occupation presented. We are creative and we have hard days sometimes; but we continue to embrace the activity God places in front of us.

All we do to labor, to grind out our work, to seek gain in our vocation, apart from God being at the center – is empty. What is missing? The Eternal One on the throne. The “stuff of eternity” God has placed in our hearts focused in a personal walk with the Father.

In the midst of change, in the swirl of what often doesn’t make sense, when the cultural grid for what is right and wrong seems to flip upside down; we can center our lives on what is eternal.

v. 11 Yet, God has made everything beautiful in his time and he has set eternity in the hearts of people. Still, no one can discover everything God is about from beginning to end.

Here is the counterpoint to the four words for labor; but God has made it all beautiful in season; he has set hope/eternity in our hearts. Appropriate time, season, timeliness, each is beautiful in the time we face it. And in the midst of this beautiful season, we know there is more. A longing to know more, to experience more is a gift. We long for more. We get a glimpse as His kids.

In his time is the emphasis of the first half; in our hearts the second. His time comes together in a beautiful way when the stuff of eternity leads the way.

Romans 1:19 God has put inside us a knowledge that He is and He created, thus deserves our lives. Yet, we stay small in our minds and perspective and focus on horizon on ourselves.

This word for eternity is also used for “world” and is use 300 times in the OT for eternity, but this is the only place the writer puts “the” in front of it. Perhaps it could be translated “the stuff of eternity” or “things everlasting.” The meaning changes in perspective to mean not just eternal but all things that are valued eternally. The contrast is all we do “in time” and “all that matters for eternity.” How do we connect these two cries?

Psalm 1:3,

We don’t get it all; but who would want to worship a God who can fully be comprehended? We see through a clouded mirror when we look at God’s work.

vv. 12-13 I know fully that there is lasting treasure only in finding joy and doing good in this life; for everyone to eat, drink and enjoy the reward of their hard work; truly this is the gift of God.

Solomon, the narrator, searcher for truth, and teacher here, brings his own conclusion. It is the same: he cannot know everything about God’s plans either. So, he recommends; pursue joy where it is found, do good wherever you can, work hard and enjoy what comes. Make the most of each day and moment.

Joy, rejoicing, happiness. God has given us a gift. Our work brings joy.

Romans 8:28 And we know that, for those who love Him, for those who are invited into His plans, God works all things together for good.

It’s not just the bad or the hard things that God uses for our benefit; it’s the good and beautiful things, too. We are invited into his purposes in every season, in every trial, in every rejoicing, the bring a full and beautiful life.

“we know that…” It’s what the first century church knew. If you love and follow God, and have said yes to his plans for your life, God the Father will take what you go through for our benefit. All will work together for good.

The context of this verse is the suffering we go through and the protective covering of the Holy Spirit and His readiness to answer our cries, even more, to lead us in those prayers.

“invited into His plans” is the calling to His purposes, mainly the redemptive story.

This passage emphasizes the free action and choice of each of us but acknowledges that, threaded through it all is God’s design and purpose to bring us to Him, to deepen our love for Him, and to accomplish His good works.