Vanity, Absurdity and Contentment

Brno (Evangelical Fellowship) - It is my privilege, from time to time, to preach at our "home base" church. Though it fills me with joy on the one hand because this is the first church we helped Czechs to establish and we have a sense that we are parents in Christ to them, it fills me with dread on the other because I know, even after fifteen years, my Czech imperfections will be on public display for all to see (and listen to on MP3 for the next generation). Now you must know that I take teaching and preaching very seriously, much more so now that I am older than I did when I was younger.

As a young preacher I often had "Saturday night sweats" because of a looming date with the pulpit.

No, preaching is not entertainment but it is in many ways a performance art, particularly when it is done well. Consider the fact that it is public speaking. This requires poise, logic, diction and more. Now consider the source material. It may be narrative, poetry, prophecy, gospel, epistle or apocalyptic - each must be handled properly, according to its own style. Another factor, the ancient world meets the modern, truth confronts relevance head on. If people walk away from a sermon still asking the question "So, what difference does it make anyway?" there is a keen sense of failure on the part of the preacher. Looks like I still have plenty to sweat about!

Ecclesiastes is not an easy book to interpret. Pick up a few critical commentaries and you will see scholars are divided on just about every issue: authorship, date, purpose - even the tone and tenor of the book. Its not a text for the weak of heart. Still, this book has been a staple in my Christian life from the early days of my walk with Christ. “Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.” (Eccl 11:9 ESV) These verses provided important boundaries for me as a young believer and well up to middle age.

Now I am looking back and other words of wisdom from "The Preacher" guide me. “Go, eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.” (Eccl 9:7-9 ESV)

What is the wisdom for us? Don't try to get more out of life than God intended. This life is not intended to fill all of our desires and longings. To live life that way only increases the frustration. The more we try to live life by filling what is lacking the more empty we feel. So, don't get caught up in the vanity (meaninglessness and absurdity) of life. Enjoy the gifts God has given: bread (food), wine (drink), work and family. Wise is the person who can look back on his day with a sense of satisfaction that (1) everything they have enjoyed is a gift from God; and (2) everything they did was a service to God.

Escape absurdity. Enjoy the life (years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds) God has given. Now that's living!