FAITH: A Biblical Philosophy Of Life

Solomon was perhaps the richest man who ever lived. Solomon, apart from the Lord Jesus, was the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon rebelled against God. In 1 Kings 11 God sent three different men to discipline him. It seems that Solomon repented and returned to the Lord later in his life. The Book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s philosophy of life. Ecclesiastes gives us a divinely inspired philosophy of life!

Every person has a philosophy of life. Everyone has principles that govern their thinking and behavior. Solomon teaches us the meaning of life. Solomon, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, teaches us two great themes.

The first theme is that life is a gift from God and is to be enjoyed. In Ecclesiastes 2:24 Solomon wrote, “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good.” There is nothing better than enjoying life as a gift from God. In Ecclesiastes 9:27 Solomon says, “Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.”

In chapter 11 verse 7 he said, “The light is pleasant and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.” Solomon basically said, “Enjoy life. It is a gift from God.” He mentioned “the days of darkness.” Don’t let the difficult and hard times of life make you bitter and resentful.

Life is a gift from God. Living in Alaska is wonderful. My son shipped out this week for basic training. Life is to be enjoyed. I said, “Son, this is an adventure. Enjoy your time in the army. Life is a gift.” Every moment we breathe is a gift from God. Don’t become angry and bitter. Be thankful for life and enjoy it.

The second basic theme is that even though life is a gift it is limited. This life has serious limitations. We live in a fallen world. This sin filled world has serious limitations. Solomon in Ecclesiastes gives many examples of these limitations.

Work is a gift from God but there are no lasting accomplishments. In Ecclesiastes 2:18 Solomon observed, “I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity.” You don’t know whether the guy who comes after you will make a mess of everything you’ve done! Solomon built the kingdom. His son, Rehoboam, destroyed it.

Another limitation is that whatever we accomplish is temporary. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 5:15, “As he has come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. This also is a grievous evil- exactly as a man is born, thus he will die. So what advantage is there to him who toils for the wind?”

Death is the great equalizer. I conducted a funeral Saturday in Tyonek. As we stood on the hill overlooking Cook Inlet burying the body, it was very sobering. Even though the sun was shining and the inlet was beautiful the wind had a bite to it. We enter the world naked and we leave the world naked.

Another limitation to life in this sinful world is that there is no guarantee of success. “I saw again under the sun that the race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). A person works hard but the boss’s son gets the promotion. The fastest runner gets tripped and falls in the Olympics. A great business plan is crushed by a changing economy. There is no guarantee of success!

Ecclesiastes is not the work of a cynic or a nihilist. Ecclesiastes is a call to faith. This world will never bring lasting satisfaction. We enjoy life as a gift from God but this sin filled world has serious limitations. We, as Christians, put our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. His death, burial and resurrection redeem us from our sin. He gives us the gift of eternal life. His coming will make all things right. We look for a city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God. Our ultimate focus is not this life but the next!

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK