October 20, 2024 Text: Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
During my years of growing up in Argenta, there were those trying to keep up with their neighbor. We lived on the south side of town where most of the older homes were. The north side of town had the newer homes. One year the folks up there all had to have a boat. One person buys one, then another, then another. Eventually my friend and his family buy a boat. Everyone was trying to keep up. Having that possession, a boat, was that important to how they looked to the fellow neighbors.
The things of this world can be alluring and tempting as tangible proof that our lives have meaning. But is that true? Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes calls it “vanity.” If we exclude God all of our life is meaningless. But when He is present . . .
“YOUR LOT IN LIFE AND YOUR TOIL ARE GOD’S GIFTS”
Our culture certainly holds material success up as a panacea to conflict. If we have enough, we can insulate ourselves. But our culture daily proves that wrong. Millions play the lottery, but most of the winners have more conflict because people want to get to them and their money. Gambling, especially sports gambling is huge. You can make a bet on what a guy had for breakfast or if he is going to tie his shoes in the 2nd quarter. We are so vain about it that every commercial for this type of gambling tells you where to go to get help. Hello! We are not immune. The boys move out of our house, and we still struggle to have enough closet space for all our stuff. Can you relate?
This week was part of Bloomington’s bi-annual bulk pick-up. Toni and I set things out both Tuesday and Wednesday. By morning everything was gone, so that by Thursday the city had one old dehumidifier to pile on to the truck. This happens every year. Somebody likes “our junk.” It is a great study of our world. People love things. But it is never enough, and that is the warning.
So, what is the blessing? We can all relate to the first part of our text, but let’s focus on the last two verses. “Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil – this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” (vs. 19-20)
All that we have is gifted from God. Good things should be enjoyed. We confess, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” Our lot in life is that God is at peace with us. Not bought with gold or silver, but with the blood of Jesus.
Items we have will perish. Our soul is eternal. Our eternal soul is bound to an eternal God. God loves you and has bound your life story to that of His own Son. In Baptism, you were bound to the Son of God.
The life of Jesus was not lived in luxury. If Jesus had an estate, what was in it? I’ll tell you. His only possession at death was the garment on his body and that became the prize for a game of lots played by the soldiers who crucified him. Jesus left not a trail of selfish gain, but of sacrificial giving of Himself to the poor, the needy, the hurting, the afflicted.
When we were bound to Christ in baptism his righteousness replaced our unrighteousness. The shedding of His blood frees you and I from a world caught up in the great accumulation. Even his lifeless body was placed in a tomb he did not own. That tomb could not hold him. Those words of Easter morning were our inheritance: “He is not here. He has risen!” This is your story, your lot in life, your victory. You toil for an inheritance that will not spoil or perish, kept in heaven for you.
You do not have to go looking for the treasure that is Jesus. He searches and finds you. No matter who you are, how confused your priorities might be, or how much you have trusted in your possessions and substituted them for God as the object of your love – He is even now, this moment, coming to you. He engulfs you with baptismal water. He speaks the sweetest words a sinful human can hear: “Your sins are forgiven.” He invites you to a meal that brings his own marriage feast to you right where you are as He gives you his body and blood.
These are God’s gifts, and they have great meaning. You are the eternal recipient. Toil in joy, live a blessed lot in life, but remember what’s in the will. Heaven . . . forever.
Amen.