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Transcript

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 5 ERV, Ch. 6 CEV

Podcast Introduction

LeeAnn and I got back from Alaska at about 10 o’clock last night after about 36 hours of travel. And in case you can’t tell from my voice, I have a raging cold. Last week we were on a bus with a bunch of people going to a site in Alaska, and sitting about two or three rows in front of us was a guy that had a terrible cough, and he generously wanted to share with everyone around him. I didn’t see him cover his mouth once. So I came down with the first symptoms about 4 days ago, and LeeAnn the day after that. Sore throat, body aches, cough, headache. You get the idea. All that to say that it’s good to be back with you, but I’m going to put off telling you about our vacation until I’m somewhat recovered. As a matter of fact, today I’m going to replay last year’s Eccl 5-6 episode today. I hope that’s ok with you.

Comments on Ecclesiastes 5-6

Solomon begins chapter 5 with good advice. When coming to the house of God, it’s better to listen than to run your head (as my dad would say). Actually, that’s good advice in most situations, don’t you think? You can’t learn much when you’re talking. But when coming before the Lord, listening will always be more beneficial than speaking.

And then Solomon went on to say that money will never buy happiness. In fact, the more money you have, the more worries you have, according to Solomon. He said, the best thing is to eat, drink and enjoy the work you have. 

At this point, Solomon, in all his wisdom, is forgetting something very important. He’s looking at life from a very limited viewpoint. He’s looking at life almost as one who has no relationship with God. When you leave God out of the equation, it’s very easy to have a fatalistic view of the world. We’ll get into this in more detail when we get to chapter 8. But for now, I’ll just say that the deeper your relationship with God, the more meaning you find in life. There is a reason you’re here, if you are His. He has a purpose for your life. You matter. 

One of the saddest things in scripture, in my opinion, is in chapter 6, verses 3-6. “3You may live a long time and have a hundred children. But a child born dead is better off than you, unless you enjoy life and have a decent burial. 4-5That child will never live to see the sun or to have a name, and it will go straight to the world of darkness. But it will still find more rest than you, 6even if you live two thousand years and don’t enjoy life. As