MAKING SENSE OF LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES
Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3
We are continuing our study through the book of Ecclesiastes and today we are going to discuss how to make sense of life’s difficulties.
Here’s the first principle…
THOUGH THERE IS INJUSTICE EVERYWHERE…GOD HAS THE FINAL WORD
16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
As a student of life, and a good one at that, one of the observations Solomon makes when looking at life “under the sun” is that there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of justice in this life. Though we have written laws, elected officials, law enforcement, and prisons—these things are only as good as those in charge.
Though our system is one of the best in the world, it’s not perfect. The system doesn’t work perfectly because sinners can’t bring ultimate and perfect justice upon other sinners because we are imperfect—because we are flawed. We have mixed motives and selfish intentions, which is why at times we see the innocent dealt discipline and the guilty let off.
Solomon gives further proof that injustice is everywhere by showing that in the two places where there should be goodness and fairness we find wickedness. He says, “I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness.” This is a reference to the courts of law. Solomon’s point is that of all places there should be justice in our courts, but what we often find instead is injustice and wickedness. Though there are many judges, lawyers and others in that line of work who are concerned with justice, most of us would agree that there are also many who are not.
Solomon continues by saying, “In the place of righteousness there is wickedness.” Many of us have witnessed this first hand in our churches. We have seen those in positions of spiritual leadership abuse their power and have witnessed scandal within the church. So the question we need to ask is, “How do we make sense of and deal with this?
Look at v. 17
17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.
Solomon is comforted by the fact that even though there is no perfect justice in this life, a time is coming when perfect justice will take place because it will be carried out by God. He basically says, “Though there is injustice in this life, a time for judgment is coming and that judgment is going to be carried out by God.”
This truth should move us to respond in a couple ways. First it should set our minds at ease a bit when we witness acts of injustice in our life and world. We should remember that though one might get off scot free in our courts, nothing gets by God—though “Double Jeopardy” is in play in our courts, it does not apply to God. That person will be tried again by the God who knows all, who judges perfectly and who deals out appropriate punishment.
Second, this truth should move us to be merciful toward others. Paul says,
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).
You and I were once in the same boat and though we have been saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, we at times can be some of the most judgmental and ungracious people. At times we act as if we have never experienced the grace and mercy of God because we fail to grant it to others even though it’s been freely granted to us.
THOUGH DEATH COMES TO US ALL…LIFE CAN BE ENJOY
18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. 19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
In this passage of Scripture, Solomon is simply making one single solitary observation between man and beast. He wants his readers to see that both man and animal are alike in that they both die and go to the ground. Once again Solomon’s perspective is horizontal—“under the sun” with God removed.
Listen to these similarities between man and beast…
• WE BOTH DIE- We are born, we grow and eventually stop breathing. Have you ever seen an animal take its final breath? Looks similar to us doesn’t it?
• WE BOTH RETURN TO THE SAME PLACE- Once again, Solomon here is not talking about heaven or hell, just talking about what happens to the body after death. Both the bodies of man and animal eventually die and go to the ground where they decay.
• WE BOTH LIVE SHORT LIVES- Though our lives are normally longer than the animals, they are still extremely short. This is a continued point of Solomon’s throughout the book. He tells us time and time again that this life is fleeting, transient, short-lived, a vapor of vapors.
Solomon continues with his negative view of life “under the sun” in v. 21 by saying,
21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
Basically he is saying here, “Who knows what happens when you die?” Without God it’s anyone’s guess. Solomon is considering this question empirically—just using his senses and his three pound brain.
With just the facts before us, we can’t prove a thing. At best it’s only a guess. Philosophy is a guess, atheism is a guess. Without special revelation, without God breaking into human history, without the prophets and apostles being carried along by the Holy Spirit, without Christ coming in the flesh to show us the Father, how do we know? At best we are left to nothing more than a guess.
Once again, Solomon wants you and me to feel the weight of the hopelessness, harshness and cruelty of life under the sun and as we have said already, that’s what God wants as well. He wants our eyes to be open to the harshness of life, which is the reason why we have the book of Ecclesiastes in our Bible. God wants us to become disillusioned and discouraged by the hopelessness and purposelessness of life so that we would be drawn to Him.
A very important realization that we must come to in Ecclesiastes is the fact that we don’t have the answers therefore we need to seek out the God who does. If your trust is in some sort of man-made explanation of this life and the life to come, my prayer is that you would stop playing the guessing game when it comes to the things of God and seek out the God who knows.
When we come to know God through Christ not only do we get answers to life’s tough questions, but we also get to enjoy life! Look at what Solomon says in v. 22.
22 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
When you look at life, it’s painful. People suffer. People die. It seems like a brutal short run and then the end. But for those of us who know God—who have an “above the sun” perspective—we can experience lasting joy and happiness even in a world filled with difficulty.
THOUGH OPPRESSION IS EVERYWHERE…WE HAVE A DIVINE COMFORTER
In Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, Solomon emphasizes oppression. The main point he makes in these verses is that “Oppression is everywhere and it’s severe.” Solomon says,
4:1 Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
In most every area of life there is oppression because in most every area of life there are people in positions of power who abuse their power. Solomon also says that at times oppression can be overwhelming. He makes the point in v. 2 that oppression is so bad that the dead are more fortunate than those living and the unborn more fortunate that those who are born. What is Solomon insinuating here? That abortion and suicide are reasonable options because of the oppression in our world? Of course not. That would go completely counter to 3:22 that says that we are to enjoy life even though injustice and oppression are everywhere.
Solomon is using hyperbole—a deliberate exaggeration. He is simply trying to stress to the reader that oppression is everywhere and at times unbearable. Thinking about the oppression in our world should lead us to respond in one of number of ways.
One it should move us to action. The latin phrase “De Opresso Liber” is a motto of the United States Army Special Forces that means “To free the oppressed.” That should be our motto as believers. This is what Christ came to do for us to free us and is what we should do for others.
Second, oppression should lead us to God—our divine comforter. Though this world is filled with injustice, oppression, sin and death, God did not leave us to ourselves to figure out this life on our own, but instead sent His son who willingly emptied himself and took on flesh and dwelt among us.
Christ entered into this crazy messed up world and was oppressed for us. He underwent judgment that we deserved and died in our place so that we could be delivered from oppression that comes as a result of our sin.
If you are put out with life—If life has become too difficult for you and you don’t feel as if you have anywhere to turn. Let me end by reminding you of Christ’s words in Jn. 16:33. He says “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
If you are beaten down by life, let me invite you to place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—the one who has overcome the world.
