7:1A - A good character or reputation (a.k.a. "name") is priceless. Sometimes the best way that we can represent Christ in the world, especially at the workplace where the sharing of faith is often prohibited, is through reflecting godly character to those around us.
7:1B - This verse seems to echo Paul's sentiments in Philippians chapter one (When he says death is gain for him). The difference is that Solomon is speaking out of the futility he has seen in life - he believes it is death is better because it brings an end to the sinfulness and fruitless toil of life. Paul on the other hand speaks out of the fullness of his faith. Through Jesus Christ (Who Solomon did not yet have access to) Paul has hope that death is just the beginning of true life.
7:8 - It is human tendency, my tendency, to think always of ourselves first. I base decisions on my pride...how I look...how I am affected...how I will feel...what my goals are, etc. But this pridefullness which typically drives my behavior is also the root of all my sinfulness. I must strive to live in a spirit of patience, not driven by my selfish needs, but driven by thoughtful consideration of my faith.
7:10 - Absolutely nothing is helped by always thinking about "the good old days." The only days that should matter are the day that we have NOW...the day you are living today is a gift from God...you don't know how many more you have to come and you can't do anything about the past - so what are you doing with the NOW that God has gifted you?
7:20 - This verse is echoed by Paul's, "There is no one righteous, not even one." We are all in the same boat of helpless brokenness and is desperate need of salvation. Praise God that we have the clear picture of Jesus life and sacrifice that Solomon did not yet have.
8:12 - There are times where it can seem like the people who reject God are the ones truly living blessed lives. They seem to live longer, be more successful and basically get what they want. We must never forget that the people who live only for this world - receive only the rewards that they can scrape up from the broken existence. Solomon is this passage does not understand why it seems that evil men are blessed, but he does know that in the end it will go better for those who fear the Lord. Christians must be able to expand their worldview to encompass the reality that we are just passing through this life and heading to something infinitely better. We can't waste out time jealously looking at the lives of non-Christians...we need to spend our time following Christ and trying to encourage as many people as possible to travel with us into eternity.
8:17 - As hard as Solomon worked...as much as he thought...as deep as he searched...he could not come close to fully understanding the plan that God is working out in the world. It must have been frustrating because he had such wisdom, but I think we can take heart in the fact that sometimes we don't understand what God is doing. Do we really want a God who's creative and intellectual capacity is on a level with ours? I don't! We can trust that although we may not see clearly the path of God's plan in this world, that He is in control and that He is going to make all the right choices.
9:3-4 and 10 - Solomon seems to be oppressed and depressed by the futility of human life. He sees the good and the bad all end their lives in the same way - death. So for Solomon, the only hope is in the lives of the living. His take-away is to do everything you can while alive, because that is all you have. The pre-Christ understanding of life, death and existence displayed by Solomon is simply heartbreaking. Through the death of Christ, this cycle is broken so that humans can truly experience life in Spirit while on earth and life as it was meant to be lived with God after death.
9:15-16 - This world loves to remember the mighty...the powerful...the "hero." We celebrate the legacy of the life built on victory and conquest (Be that in business, politics or war). The humble-wise, like the man from Solomon's story, are forgotten in the sands of time. Yet in the eyes of God it is the wise and humble who fear Him, that truly conquer and show where actual strength lies.
9:18 - The potential destructive power of one man given to pride and violence is colossal. Think of the devastation that human beings have rained down on one another since the beginning of time - relationally, physically, emotionally, etc. Never let yourself forget the destructive power that lies dormant in your fleshy nature. Seek out humility before God and wisdom...seek to create and build and love, instead of pride-centered chaotic destruction.
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