Betting on God

I’m going to start a brief study of Ecclesiastes. For those who don’t know, that’s a book of Wisdom literature from the Old Testament in the Bible. It’s where Pete Seeger got the idea for his song, which the Byrds turned into a hit in 1965. Sing it with me, “To everything . . . Turn, Turn, Turn, . . . there is a season . . .”

There is some evidence that Ecclesiastes almost didn’t make it into the Biblical canon. There were those who thought it a bit too lacking in faith, perhaps a little too pessimistic about God and life. Nevertheless, there it is in the scriptures to teach us something.

“’Vanity of vanities,’ saith the preacher.” Thus it begins. A modern translation suggests that a better modern word to convey the intent of Ecclesiastes is “futility.” In other words, everything in life is just “chasing after the wind.” Sometimes life does feel that way.

And to add to the burden, you can’t know what God is up to. Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 illustrates this perfectly. “Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.”

Sometimes you wonder whether God is for you or against you. Ecclesiastes says that we can’t know for sure, but he’s willing to bet on God nevertheless. That’s what Dr. Tom Long suggests. Ecclesiastes is making a wager. He’s betting on God even though he doesn’t know the outcome. After Ecclesiastes makes his case about the meaninglessness of life, he nevertheless resolves to serve God even though he has no assurance, no certainty, that doing so will be of any advantage to him. This is the reason I think Ecclesiastes made it into the Biblical canon, because this is what faith is – believing whether it does you good or not. Let him speak for himself, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone (12:13).”

I think I have an advantage over Ecclesiastes. I have seen Jesus in whom I believe we can see and know what God is up to. I’m willing to place my bet on God because of Jesus. But imagine what faith Ecclesiastes had that even without the witness of Jesus he was willing to do the same?