Prayerful Resolutions, Resolute Prayers

What kind of resolutions have you made this year? Are you the type to make radical, practically unattainable goals that you'll give up 3 weeks from now, or do you fit the profile of the disciplined person who sets attainable goals and won't rest until they are met? Most of us fit into one of these two camps, at least at some point in our lives. I'm typically the latter type: I figure out what I think I can reasonably pull off, and then make sure it gets done (no excuses!). So last year was one of the first years I didn't really make any firm resolutions. Between the puppies, the possibility of a big move, and the scheduling of a major surgery for Nathan, I didn't have any idea what I might be able to accomplish. With the whole year up in the air, I didn't feel the desire to make any goals I didn't know I could keep. No resolutions--I just had a number of big prayers!

Coming into 2014, as I reflect on things I'd like to see by year's end, there are several things that come to mind. But this year, despite our greater stability (and lack of crazy puppy mess), I am realizing that none of my serious desires for this year's life and work are things that I can "pull off". None of them are dependent solely on my effort and discipline. I can't manufacture the money we need to continue on here; I can't make anyone decide that Jesus is worth following; I can invest in relationships, but they are always a two-way street and I don't control the other lane. And I even screw up my lane sometimes! But God has control over all of these things. God can provide; God can save; God can prosper friendships. So I guess this year, I'm left once again with no great resolutions, and several big prayers.

As I think about this, though, it occurs to me that really, it's quite a silly distinction. Do we have any resolutions that we can really accomplish on our own? Do we really have control over our year, even when it starts off looking stable and predictable? And even if the year does go the way we had hoped, even if we lose the weight, never go near the sugar, read all those books, learn that new skill, share the gospel with as many people as we'd vowed, give more money away than we had resolved, if it's all by our own striving, who gets the glory? What does it really matter in the end?

Generosity: the Antidote to Consumerism

Anti-consumerism. It's the new(ish) theme of Christmas. Black Friday kicks off the fabulous sales AND the annual ranting against materialism and greed. I've said it; you've probably said it: We've all got so much STUFF. That's all Christmas is about anymore: more STUFF. All these trappings... Can't we just go back to being simple? I mean, how many more Legos do the kids possibly need? And all I'm going to get at the gift exchange is another something I don't want--another re-gift for next year. Plus, this pressure to think of something for all 20 people on my list is going to cause me a panic attack!

It's true: there's a lot of time and money spent in December on buying STUFF. And there are plenty of things bought that are of little use. There's a lot of waste out there. And a lot of greed.

But sometimes we use anti-consumerism as an excuse to be stingy. We fight selfishness by being selfish. No one needs extravagant gifts this year because Christmas isn't about gifts... Or really because I don't want to invest the time and money in giving generously. Or because I'm too disillusioned with stuff to be really thankful for God's unfathomable generosity toward me, and therefore have no good reason to let that overflow to others.

Postscript

I started my study of Ecclesiastes with little knowledge of the riches that lie within this short book, and ended it with so many things to think about that I really could have written at least twice as many posts as I actually did. Once I got to know him, the awkward cousin actually turned out to be a really great guy! Of course, that should be no surprise, because God does not put superfluous words in his book (Isaiah 55:10,11)

If any of the posts in this series have spurred you to thought, or have resonated with you, or for that matter, if you haven't read any of them and think the Bible is a book that has nothing to say to you, I'd encourage you to read this little book of Ecclesiastes and meditate on the truths in it. I personally started off with the idea that it is an incredibly pessimistic look at life, and came away with more reasons for joy and a greater love for God's Holy Word than I've had in quite a while.

In fact, it strikes me as somewhat sad that it's taken me more than 30 years to really listen to this piece of the Bible. As I said in my intro, there are many things in this book that are a little tricky to understand at first glance, so I suppose it's kind of understandable that it's not the first book preachers choose to preach through, not the book chosen for a small group Bible study, not the natural option for some easy, uplifting personal study. But, like the rest of Scripture, it IS a book with infinite value, and over the course of the month or so that I spent in it (along with an extra several weeks of thinking and writing), it has quickly become one of my favourite books. So why not consider it for a sermon series or a Bible study? Why not read it through in one sitting, a few days in a row (it's pretty short)?

And then, once you've marinated in Ecclesiastes for a little while, consider reading Death By Livingby N.D. Wilson, a book that seems to be largely inspired by Ecclesiastes. I highly, highly recommend this book on living in light of death. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll be encouraged to savour the moments of your toil, and die having given your all.

The End of the Matter (Meditations on Ecclesiastes)

Ecclesiastes shows us a world that is marred by sin, condemned to futility, full of oppression and evil. Even though there are joys in life, sometimes it seems that we have been forgotten, that God has abandoned this world and left us to fend for ourselves. In the midst of such circumstances, all of us are on a search for meaning in life, a way to reconcile the fact of our existence in time and space with the apparent chaos and coincidence and futility of so much of what goes on under the sun.

We have seen that ambition and good deeds do not secure us an eternal remembrance, that the ultimate outcome of the universe is out of our control, that some of our questions will not be answered on this side of eternity. So what is one to do? Is there any point to a search for meaning? Or does each individual find their own way to make meaning for themself, something just quenching enough to that thirst for eternal life?

Some will go on searching endlessly. They will go on making books and books of speculation on the matter. They will study and search, always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (Eccl. 12:12, 2 Tim. 3:7), because in truth, they love the study and speculation too much to ever accept a final answer.

But for those who are willing to listen, who want the truth no matter what implications it has for them, the author of Ecclesiastes offers The Answer. After all of his weighing of the futilities of life and the joys of life, after all of his study and asking and thinking, he comes down to "the end of the matter", and it is this: "Fear God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."

The Balance of Wisdom (Meditations on Ecclesiastes)

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil... Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."

Huh? How can both of these statements be true? Actually, Ecclesiastes is full of these contrasts. In fact, reading Ecclesiastes is a bit like being on a teeter totter. So much futility; be hopeful! Mourn and weep; be joyful! Work hard; rest is important. Consider your options carefully; trust God and take the risk. Seeking knowledge is vanity; get wisdom.

The fact is, though, that the whole of life is like a teeter totter:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time for love, and a time for hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace." (Eccl. 3:1-8)

Ecclesiastes, with all of its back-and-forth, give-and-take wisdom teaches us that those who want to live wisely will learn what is the proper time and the just way for everything: when to weep and when to sing, when to investigate every angle of a problem and when to take a leap of faith, when to bring on the feasting and when to live as simply as possible.