How Can I Stay on Course? - Ecclesiastes 7-9

The title of this lesson is a simple question with an answer that is easy to give—but it is a chore not so easy to follow. You simply obtain a quality compass and study it until you are sure you understand how to follow its directions. The compass must be a published work and not a manufactured object. I suggest a King James Version or one that has the same message in modern day wording that makes it somewhat easier to read and understand.

We are living in an imperfect world that is filled with inaccurate counsel about how best to live and who best to serve. Under the law of the OT, the road was paved and straight and the ten road signs [commandments] were plain and easy to read. They could be abbreviated to read—“Have no other God/gods before Me, and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” God watched his creation sin and drift away from His original instructions; but He loved us so much that he sent His only Begotten Son to pave the new road called Grace, by which believers could return unto him. If one studies the directions plainly given in His word, believes and follows the signs that are posted along the way, it is fairly easy to STAY ON COURSE.

Because of the growth and speed of mass communication that is available to people today, the growth of man-made false religions has increased accordingly. There is no wonder so many have gone astray and are completely misguided down the wrong course. There is nothing innately wrong or sinful about the invention of television; however there is no other mode of communication that has become more devastating to ‘The Way of the Cross.’ The greatest of harm has come by evil minded men using the TV to make things that are ungodly seem right and above all enjoyable. In contrast there are so many man-made religions that are being touted as the only way for us to stay on course. The bible warns us over and over again to be-ware of false teachers. The only sure way for anyone to stay on course is to personally read, and believe what the Bible tells us is right then, do right; and especially make note of what the Bible says is a sin and, don’t sin. The majority of people are ignoring the godly wisdom presented in God’s Word and deciding for themselves what paths seem best. There is a way that seems right unto man—but it leads to destruction and death.
It is absolutely necessary for the bible scholar that is studying the writings of King Solomon to first understand who he was, how he became King, and how he conducted his life—both in and out of the will of God. His kingship started as a result of tragedy. According to Jewish law, his older brother should have followed his father David to the throne. David chose Solomon over his brother and so his rise to King was an immediate success. David had been a success before him and had already subdued the nation’s enemies. The nation was not at war, and this peace brought the greatest of prosperity. Solomon’s life is an example of any son today that inherits the name, power and wealth of a prosperous family. Even though he is said to be the wisest of all men, he used his success and pride to lead him into some of the most foolish decisions ever made.

Solomon wrote this book later in life, when he had learned from his own experiences just how devastating it is for man to try to live outside of the wisdom of God’s teaching. He is not saying to us that we should live as he had lived—but we should live as he has learned that he should have lived. The most profitable lesson that he teaches us is that God’s perfect wisdom is the best guide for us as we live in this imperfect world. If we do any less, we will find that some of the paths that seem so right to us will prove to be going in the wrong direction. The study of the seventh chapter contains some of the simple choices we must make; some of the simple truths that seem to be in error and some of the errors that seem so right in man’s sight that we fail to stay on the right course.

In the first verse the teacher reminds us that our after-shave lotion feels soothing when it is first applied, and the plesant odor lasts for a few hours and then it vanishes away. A good name, especially with older people and at death is much more preferred. He is not being morbid when he says that a death is better than a birth. The day of death for the Christian is his greatest day on earth. It is not only great for the deceased, but also for those who morn because it is an appropriate reminder that each one will pass this way soon. The teacher makes this clear in verse two.

This teaching may seem to contradict Solomon’s previous advice to eat, drink and find satisfaction in one’s work—that we should enjoy what God has given us. We are to live a life of joy and enjoy what we have while we are able—but we must realize that the adversities of life are always ahead and they always strike; sometimes they strike when we are least expecting. We should use adversities to remind us that life is like a vapor, only here for a moment and then it vanishes away. We must learn to live wisely, choose the high road, and refine our character—make our good name. The true Christian will find value in suffering and sorrow. It is a part of the refining fire that the bible speaks of. I believe that most of my friends will agree that we learn more about God from difficult times than we do from the happy times in our lives. I have found that if I try to avoid difficulties at all cost it winds up being more dissatisfying than if I use my struggles as a good opportunity to learn from God’s word just how to cope with my problems.

Many people, especially teen age and young adults, avoid talking or even thinking about death. They refuse to face it or even attend funerals. I do not think that Solomon is suggesting that we should think morbidly about death but since each one will face death they should think clearly and rationally and above prepare for it is sure to come. Attendance at funerals gives us one more opportunity to examine our own life and it allows the necessary time for any unsaved person to make the life saving decision to submit their life to Christ while time and opportunity is afforded. This will keep you on the right course.

The seventh verse speaks to sins that are prevalent today and one of our worst political cancers—extortion makes man a fool and a bribe corrupts the takers heart. Men sinfully love money, and this sin has caused many men that would ordinarily judge wisely to distort the law. A bribe will cause a policeman to turn his head or a witness to lie when on the stand. In every case a bribe hurts those that are truthful and aids those that oppose the truth. I have heard it said that everyone has a price, but we know that those who are truly wise in the Lord can not be bought at any price, and they are on the right course.

A Christian will joyfully do his best to accomplish a task that is expected of him, and he starts the work with a successful outcome in mind. It is no wonder that he is happy when the task is finished—that is his best hour. That is what the teacher meant when in the eighth verse he said, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning.” Finishing some obligations takes hard work, wise guidance and a lot of patience and when these are exhibited the goal is reached successfully and is done without sinful pride. This is just one more way that we can know that our path is leading us on the right course.

In the good times we should be happy; but we should not let our bad days bring unhappiness. We must remember that God made both days and he allows both good times and bad times to come to everyone. He blends them in our lives in such a way that we never know what the next day holds. We can not predict the future or count on our wisdom or human power to plan because of the uncertainty. It is just man’s nature to take credit for the good times; but we seldom thank God for the good that comes out of our bad experiences. We should never build larger barns to hold the abundant crop with the idea that we can become comfortable in our complacency; God may allow the next crop to fail in order to drive you back to your dependency on Him. Things could be even worse—He told one guilty man, “This night your soul will be required of thee. “How can we stay on course? Learn well these lessons Solomon is teaching us.

Earlier in this lesson the admonition was give to do good and not sin. We who know the Lord and his word have read that if we say we have no sin in us we are untruthful; we know that all have sinned and come short. Solomon knew this and warned us again, he said; “There is no righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” Just remember that God looks deep into the sinner’s heart, and if his bent to sin is embedded there, and there is no remorse, no asking for forgiveness, God will hold you accountable for your sin. If you are sorry for your sin and ask God for forgiveness it is then as if you had never sinned.

Here is a final suggestion on how to answer the question—“How can I stay on course? First, make sure that you are on the right road, it is narrow and few there-be that find it. Do not trust the man made signs at the crossings, and ignore the sign that tells you which fork of the road to take. Stake your successful arrival on the sign-posts that are plentiful all the way from Genesis to The Revelation. I regret having to say this but one more way to be sure is to just look around at the forks of the road. The one most traveled—is not the course to take.