Ecclesiates became my favorite book in the Bible when I was 16. Is that weird or what???? I was also reading books by economists/philosophers as well as Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich then. .. .
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Ecclesiates became my favorite book in the Bible when I was 16. Is that weird or what???? I was also reading books by economists/philosophers as well as Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich then. .. .
obviously, Ecclesiates has had an impact on my world view. . . . . it innoculated me against the nonsense of people like Napolean Hill who wrote books on how to get rich.. . . I still remember a little ditty that went like this. . . .
It seemed to me there oughtta be some things more important about life than money. . . . .
I bargained with life for a penny
And life would pay no more
However I pleaded at evening
When I counted my meagre store.
It seemed to me there oughtta be some things more important about life than money. . . . .
Well I just discovered the Book of Ecclesiastes last weekend (a series on it started on Sunday at Church).
Seriously, I can't believe I have missed it up until now. It's one of the most eye opening message I've read recently.
The main message seems to be this: "Everything is meaningless Under the Sun". Therefore it is pointless to look for "meaning" within this world - but instead look "beyond" this world.
Ecclesiates has one of he most coherent statements of religion in any holy writ from any land. . . . it's conclusion. . . .
"Fear God. . . . .This is the whole duty of man." meaning, I take it, to consider God as the most relevant fact of life, and live in the manner of someone who is devoted to serving Him above all other cares of life. It puts it back to the level of the Ten Commandments, where in the lead-up we are told that God is the only God, and we should hold reverence to Him as our first priority. . . . Even Jesus said essentially the same thing. . .. that the greatest commandment is to love God and serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. . . . the second being to love other s as ourselves.. . .
While we are palavering about our own concerns in life, it is indeed pretty meaningless. . . . but the God who made us also gave us a high value, a high meaning. . . . provided we believe in it. . . .
If we don't believe in God, we are assigning to ourselves an absolute sort of meaninglessness. . . .that's the paradox of secular humanism and the whole progressive agenda crowd. . .. so far as we seek to on our own terms to set the values and priorities of our times and lives, we are in fact turning away from reality. .. . from the value set that can transform us towards being of eternal value . . . . .
Well, I had a little fun tonight exploring the subject of self-importance/meaninglessness to others. The only thing that can count for "meaning" in life is the things we choose to love, and how well we love or serve them. yah we can love ourselves or others nearly like us. . . .we can love stuff, or maybe illusions of importance somehow. . . ..but nothing can compare to loving God. . . .
I think included in that "loving God" are sentiments like loving ourselves in some respects, or others. . . . spouse and children, friends, neighbors, community or nation. . . .but all that hinges, for having any sense. . . . upon some higher principle of what is good and evil, and for that we have to go to God. If we make up our own idea, it is just that. . . . . only our own notion, and most likely a lesser notion. Axiomatic with religion in the Christian tradition is the virtue of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus for our sakes.
I think included in that "loving God" are sentiments like loving ourselves in some respects, or others. . . . spouse and children, friends, neighbors, community or nation. . . .but all that hinges, for having any sense. . . . upon some higher principle of what is good and evil, and for that we have to go to God. If we make up our own idea, it is just that. . . . . only our own notion, and most likely a lesser notion. Axiomatic with religion in the Christian tradition is the virtue of God, and the sacrifice of Jesus for our sakes.