Month: February 2022

11/02/2022

引言：

传道书就在讲苹果和香蕉的故事，上帝给人的是苹果人最后领受的是香蕉。

一、侍奉神的态度（V1-9）

「谨慎」留心注意，看守。

「谨慎脚步」指到神面前须警惕谨慎，外表敬虔的行为，要配上内里诚实的存心。

听比作更为优先，听比作更重要，听比说更为宝贵，听比作更有价值，听不懂就会苹果变成香蕉。听明白了才能作对事，事错了可以重作，人错了一生就输了。

二、今生的价值观 （V10-17）

「贪爱银子的，不因得银子知足」10-11节 钱财可以换取物质和精神的享受，钱财无法给人带来安全感，所以无论得到多少钱财，都不能叫贪心的人知足。

「劳碌的人不拘吃多吃少，睡得香甜」12节 指劳苦作工的人，他所拥有的财富虽然不多，不论他的享受多少，却能心安理得、睡得香甜。

「我见日光之下有一宗大祸患，就是财主积存资财，反害自己。」V13。

资财害了他们，使他们变得骄傲、自以为得意、贪爱世界，远离神，远离自己的责任，难以进天国，简直是自己关上了天国的门。

三、以神为乐生活（V18-20）

「善」好的，另人愉悦的事。

真正的幸福和内心的平安来自与神的正常关系。神乐意将好东西赐给祂的儿女，有劳碌才有享受。懒惰的人无缘享受神恩。

「在他劳碌中喜乐，这乃是神的恩赐」：指虽然劳苦，却仍能有满足的喜乐，这就是神的恩赐。

总结：

人带着敬畏的态度来到神的面前，聆听神的话是非常重要的。听懂了才是做对的基础。
人要有正确的价值观，上帝让我们做好金钱的管家，钱是最好的仆人，钱也是最坏的主人。
人生最重要的是以神为满足！以神为乐！

Ecclesiastes 5: Laws of Life
GK611 Morning Devotion
11/2/2022
Speaker: Rev Moses Li + Rev David Tan

Introduction：

Ecclesiastes is telling the story of the apple and banana, where God gives the apple and man receives the banana in the end.

1. Attitude of Serving God (V1-9)

“Prudence” means to be attentive and watchful.

“Walk prudently” means to be alert and cautious before God, and to match one’s outward godly behavior with an inwardly honest heart.

Hearing is more a priority than doing, hearing is more important than doing, hearing is more precious than speaking, hearing is more valuable than doing, and hearing without understanding becomes bananas. If you understand, then you can do the right thing. If you are wrong, you can do it again, but if men are wrong, you’ll lose your life. 7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting.

2. Values in this life (V10-17)

“He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver” V10-11 Money can be exchanged for material and spiritual enjoyment. Money cannot bring security, so no matter how much money he gets, he cannot call the greedy man to be satisfied.

“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much;” verse 12 says he who toils and works, though he has little wealth, is content and sleeps soundly, no matter how much he enjoys.

“There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun. Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. “ V13

Money has caused them to become proud, proud of themselves, lovers of the world, far from God, far from their responsibilities, and have difficulty in entering the kingdom of heaven, and have literally shut the door to heaven themselves.

3. Living with God as Pleasure (V18-20)

The “good” is good and pleasing.

True happiness and inner peace come from a normal relationship with God. God is pleased to give good things to His children, and only with labor can there be enjoyment. The lazy man has no chance to enjoy the grace of God.

“to receive his [e]heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. “: This means to have a contented joy in spite of labor, which is the gift of God.

Conclusion：

It is very important for people to come to God with reverence and listen to His word. Hearing and understanding is the basis for doing the right thing.

People need to have the right values. God tells us to be good stewards of money, money is the best servant and money is also the worst master.

The most important thing in life is to be satisfied with God and to be happy with God.

10/02/2022

引言：

传道书第4章带出日光之下所发生的事都让人觉得虚空，因无人能了解且分担。所以，在日光之下若能建造和谐美好的人际关系，会让我们的生命富有意义。

一、面对欺压，能得安慰（V1-3）

这里我们看到一个不公平的画面，就是恃强凌弱：弱者无人同情，强者无人制止。就算是欺压者也是痛苦的，因为他们也同样是孤独无人安慰。

其实寻得安慰的属灵原则很简单。我们希望别人如何对待我们，我们就要如何对待他人。所以，当我们先去安慰人，成为别人的聆听者，这样，安慰的互动就会出来。我们要突破自己，懂得去找人一起分担自己的软弱，使自己不再孤单，也可以得着帮助。

二、懂得知足，就有安静（V4-6）

这里提到两种工作态度：一种是辛勤劳碌，并且很有能力和智慧；一种是游手好闲。前者遭人的嫉妒而面对处处刁难。另外游手好闲的人，他们却是走向消极（“抱着手”），结果等于自我毁灭（“吃自己的肉”）。这两种态度都不能带来真正的快乐。在关系的建立上也是无益处的。

我们既不要淹没于野心之中，也不要毫无野心，而是以平安喜乐为准则。接受自己的力量和限制，对自己或别人都不作过分的要求，享受与他人和谐的关系。基督徒的人生还有一个更崇高的目的，就是荣耀神。人若为此动机而生活，所得的就有永存的价值和意义。

三、分享祝福，得享福乐（V7-8）

人若孤身一人，固然可以无牵无挂、专心工作。但劳碌不息所赚得的财富既无亲朋好友可以分享，也无子孙可以继承，最终还不归自己享受（7-8节），又有什么意义呢？

因此，我们要懂得与人分享。将神给我们的祝福分享出去，我们会看见不止是别人得着祝福，我们所作的也会被神记念。

四、二人同行，美好果效（V9-12）

神安排的人生是与人结伴而不是与人隔绝；是与人建立亲密的关系，而不是一人孤独地生活。传道者说明两个同工总比一个好，因为他们借着合作，生产就更有效率。再者，寒夜里两人同睡总比一人独睡好，因为两人能互相暖和。人数加一倍，合在一起的效果竟大了十倍。

在奔跑天国的路上，我们需要有人同心相助。因为无论怎样健全的人，也有软弱、灰心、患病、甚至怠惰的时候，或在情绪低沉的时候，有时受了试探也会为过犯所胜；然而，当有两个人在一起，我们就可以扶持相顾，而不会孤单无助。

五、作王有伴，听取谏言（V13-16）

本来人上了年纪，经验丰富，会受人敬重。但若不肯虚心，智慧就可能比不上年轻人。
年轻的王也会老去，也可能渐渐变成傲慢、不再愿意听人劝告，而最终为人所弃，像老王一样孤独，被人遗忘。

逝去的岁月未必带来智慧，愚昧人也没有年龄的限制！因此当我们处在越高的位子，我们身旁越需要可以对我们生命说话并愿意帮助我们的人。这些人会不时的提醒我们，使我们不至于走差了路。

总结：

我们要为着神赐给我们有家人和同伴感恩。纵使在人际关系上会面对挑战、冲突和受伤。我们可以求神给我们智慧去处理，并教我们懂得与人互动建立美好的系。

若我们过去都是孤单一人，也不需要觉得失落。我们也可以求神赐给我们好的同伴，更重要的是当我们愿意靠近神，神是愿意与我们建立亲密关系。

Ecclesiastes 4: Building Great Relationships
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/02/2022
Speaker: IP Stella Ling + Rev David Tan

Introduction:

Ecclesiastes 4 brings out that what happens under the sun feels empty because there is no one to understand and share it. Therefore, if we can build harmonious and beautiful relationships under the sun, it will make our life meaningful.

1. Can Be Comforted in the Face of Oppression (V1-3)

Here we see an unfair picture of bullying: the weak have no one to sympathize with and the strong have no one to stop them. Even the oppressors suffer, for they are equally alone and uncomforted. The spiritual principle of finding comfort is actually quite simple. How we want others to treat us is how we are to treat them. So, when we first go to comfort people and become a listener to others, then the comforting interaction will come out. We need to break through and know how to find people to share our weaknesses with, so that we are not alone and can be helped.

2. If You Know How To Be Content, You Will Have Quiet (V4-6)

There are two kinds of work attitudes mentioned here: one is hard-working and very capable and wise; the other is idle. The former is jealous of people and faces difficulties at every turn. The other one is idle, but they are going to negativity (“holding hands”), which results in self-destruction (“eating their own flesh”). Neither of these attitudes brings true happiness. They are also unhelpful in relationship building.

We should neither drown in ambition nor have no ambition at all, but be guided by peace and joy. Accept our own strengths and limitations, make no excessive demands on ourselves or others, and enjoy harmonious relationships with others. There is a higher purpose of the Christian life, which is to glorify God. If one lives for this motive, what one obtains has eternal value and meaning.

3. Share the Blessings and Be Blessed (V7-8)

If a person is alone, he can certainly work without any worries. But what is the point of having no friends or relatives to share the wealth you earn by working endlessly, and no children or grandchildren to inherit it, and ultimately not to enjoy it yourself (v. 7-8)?

Therefore, we need to know how to share with others. By sharing the blessings God has given us, we will see that not only will others be blessed, but what we do will also be remembered by God.

4. The Two Walk Together, Beautiful Results (V9-12)

God ordained life to be lived in companionship and not in isolation; to be in intimate relationship with people, and not alone. The evangelist explains that two co-workers are better than one, because by working together they are more productive. Furthermore, it is better for two people to sleep together on a cold night than for one to sleep alone, for they can warm each other. When the number of people is doubled, the combined effect is ten times greater.

We need people to help each other on the way to the kingdom of heaven. For no matter how sound a person is, there are times of weakness, discouragement, sickness, and even laziness, or when he is depressed, and sometimes when he is tempted, he is overcome by sin; but when there are two together, we can support each other, and not be alone.

5. To Be a King with Company and Listen to Advice (V13-16)

Originally, when people are older and more experienced, they will be respected. But if they refuse to be humble, their wisdom may not be as good as that of the young.

The young king will also grow old, and may gradually become arrogant and no longer willing to listen to people, and eventually be abandoned by people, lonely and forgotten like the old king.

Passing years do not necessarily bring wisdom, and there is no age limit for the foolish! Therefore when we are in a higher position, the more we need people around us who can speak into our lives and are willing to help us. These people will remind us from time to time, so that we do not go astray.

Conclusion:

We need to be thankful for the family and companions that God has given us. Even though we will face challenges, conflicts and hurts in our relationships. We can ask God to give us the wisdom to deal with them and teach us how to interact with people to build good relationships.

We don’t need to feel lost if we have been alone in the past. We can also ask God to give us good companions, and more importantly, God is willing to build intimate relationships with us when we are willing to draw near to Him.

09/02/2022

引言：

人生有一大智慧，就是要辨认出什么东西是神所管理的，而我们人是无法去管的；同时也辨认出什么东西是我们人应当去管理的，然后我们就当尽我们的本分去管理。管一些我们不该去管，甚至是去管一些我们无法去管的事，往往会带给我们许多的痛苦。今天这章经文其实也是在教导我们要看到，神的分与人的分，就是要看到神所管理的范围，然后我们就不要去越界；同时也去看到我们人要管理的范围，然后我们就要去负起责任去管理！

一、人当降服管理定期的神 (V1-11)

1. 神掌管万务的定期 (V1-10)

天下万务都有定期，都是神已经安排好了的。这样看来，人忙碌去做各种各样的事，仿佛就没有了任何的益处，因为神已经定好了各样事务要成就的时间。不过在这个过程当中，人也不是就什么都不用做了。我们读经不能只抓住传道书这里的几节经文，就断章取义。否则的话，箴言里面所教导我们有关管理人生的那些话语，就毫无意义了。我们还是需要去辛勤管理神所量给我们的各个领域，去经历人生的历练，好在神的定期里去成就各样的事情！

2. 人当降服思想永恒 (V11)

当人这样来看到神的主权，并明白凡事都有神安排的美好定时，就更知道我们应该要降服下来，不要去抵挡神的作为。在短暂的人生里，我们要去思想神安置我们心里的永生，就是一种想要回到神这个永恒生命源头的渴望。也因着神的主权，我们是无法去彻底参透祂的作为的，我们人应该学会在许多人生的事上放手交托给神。

3. 人当在劳碌中享福 (V12-15)

在虚空的人生中，享受神的恩赐，就是行善得着的快乐，从美食中得着享受，并且在忙碌的事上体会乐趣。要知道我们所作的一切，都应当带着敬畏神的心，因为神的作为是没有人可以拦阻的，没有人可以去改变神已经命定了的作为。虽然世界在发展的过程中有新鲜的事物会出现，但其实事情的本质却从未改变过。神总是让发生了的事又再次发生。

二、人当降服掌管善恶的神 (V16-21)

在地上应该有公义的审判之处，却也会有奸恶的存在。很多事情在地上有虚假和不义，但是神最终必要来审判一切的义人和恶人。人在地上没有得到公义的对待，甚至最终面对死亡。这样看来，人其实跟动物也没有什么区别，最终都是埋在地里。然而人死后最终灵还是需要上升去面对神，动物则是死了过后，它的气息就和它的尸体下沉到地里了。既然人死了就无法再回来看见地上所发生的事，那么人最好的光景就是在他活着的时候，去享受他手作做的一切了。

总结：

神掌管着万事万物的定期，也掌管着善恶的判断，我们人应当顺服回应神的旨意，把我们人生许多无法想明白的事，尤其是把审判的权利，放手交托给神。我们也要辛勤地管理经营我们的人生，去回应神，与神同工来成就祂的旨意。

面对虚空的人生，我们不要一味地消极去看待，我们应当学会去享受神给我们的恩赐，例如：享受美食，享受行善所得到的喜乐，还有去享受我们所做的事情所带给我们的乐趣。当我们能够如此去搞清楚神的分和人的分的时候，我们才能够活得更加地轻省，也更加地喜乐！

Ecclesiastes 3: God’s Part And Man’s Part
GK611 Morning Devotion
09/02/2022
Speaker: IP Moses Ou

Introduction:

One of the great wisdoms of life is to discern what God governs that we cannot manage, and what we should manage, and then we should do our part to manage it. Managing things we should not manage, or even managing things we cannot manage, will often bring us much suffering. Today’s scripture is actually teaching us to see God’s part and man’s part, that is, to see the scope of God’s management, and then we should not cross the line; but also to see the scope of our human management, and then we should take the responsibility to manage!

1. Man Should Surrender to the God Who Governs the Periodicals (V1-11)

(1) God is in charge of the regularity of all affairs (V1-10)

All things under heaven have a regular schedule, which God has arranged. In this way, it seems that it is not beneficial for man to be busy doing all kinds of things, for God has already set the time for all things to be accomplished. However, it is not true that man does not have to do anything in the process. We can’t just grab a few verses from Ecclesiastes and take them out of context when we read the Bible. Otherwise, the words in Proverbs that teach us about stewardship of life would be meaningless. We still need to diligently manage the various areas God has given us, and go through life’s experiences so that we can accomplish all kinds of things in God’s regularity!

(2) Man should surrender to the thought of eternity (V11)

When man comes to see the sovereignty of God in this way, and understands that everything has a good timing from God, knowing that we should surrender and not resist the works of God. In our short life, we need to think about the eternal life that God has placed in our hearts, which is a desire to return to God as the source of eternal life. Because of God’s sovereignty, we are unable to penetrate His works completely, and we should learn to surrender to God in many things of life.

(3) Let a man enjoy the blessings of his labors (V12-15)

To enjoy the gifts of God in the midst of a life of emptiness is the joy of doing good, the enjoyment from good food, and the pleasure in the busyness of things. Know that everything we do should be done with the fear of God, for no one can stop the works of God, and no one can change the works that God has ordained. Although new things may appear in the course of the world’s development, the essence of things never changes. God always allows what has happened to happen again.

2. Man Should Surrender to the God Who Rules Over Good and Evil (V16-21)

While there should be a place of righteous judgment on the earth, there is also the presence of wickedness. Many things are false and unjust on the earth, but God must ultimately come to judge all the righteous and the wicked. Man is not treated righteously on earth, and he even faces death in the end. In this way it seems that man is not really different from animals, who are ultimately buried in the ground. However, after death the human spirit eventually needs to rise to face God, while an animal dies and then its breath and its corpse sink into the ground. Since man cannot come back to see what happened on earth after death, the best scenario for man is to enjoy what his hands did while he was alive.

Conclusion:

God is in charge of the regularity of all things and the judgment of good and evil. We as people should respond to God’s will in obedience and entrust God with many things in our lives that we cannot understand, especially the right to judge. We should also diligently manage our lives to respond to God and work with Him to accomplish His will.

Faced with the emptiness of life, we should not just look at it negatively, we should learn to enjoy the gifts that God has given us, such as enjoying good food, enjoying the joy of doing good, and enjoying the pleasures of what we do. When we can understand God’s part and man’s part in this way, we will be able to live more lightly and more joyfully!

08/02/2022

引言：日光之下的追求

弟兄姐妹，不知道大家读传道书，会不会用一种对人生感到悲观、无奈和绝望的感觉？我们知道这是所罗门经历了人生的起伏高低、甜酸苦辣，步入老年后，回顾一生所经历而写下的结论，用以劝诫兒孫和百姓。当所罗门写传道书时，对自己的一生有许多的失望和懊悔。他发现一生在日光之下的追求，因把焦点放错了，所以导致无法挽回的遗憾，导致一生所谋的都落入虚空。到底人生要如何才能活得不虚空？日光之下的福乐又当如何追求，才不会归为虚空呢？

一、追求物欲是虚空（V1-11）

1.肉体宴乐是虚空（V1-3）

嬉笑 = 指表面上的快乐。喜乐 = 指有节制的欢愉。

所罗门一生在王宫里，无论哪一种吃喝和宴乐，想必都尝尽了嬉笑和喜乐。他甚至试过一边让肉体尽情享乐，另一边却在心灵里使用理性控制自己，有节制的欢愉，想要以此让自己得着满足，但最终发现心灵依然落入虚空。

多少人夜夜笙歌，灯红酒绿，为的是使肉体满足喜乐。但是酒醒过后，或是夜深人静时，就会发现原来心灵深处是何等的虚空。多少年轻人，因沉浸在娱乐场所、夜店，因为醉酒而被侵犯成了未婚妈妈。也有因为这样染上毒瘾、被诱惑去贩毒的，比比皆是。即使不是这样，也有因为大吃大喝导致弄坏身体，把肝脏当掉，吃出‘三高’的也不少。

因此，人若想透过吃喝玩乐来满足肉体而得着喜乐，最后将会是虚空的。

2.家财万贯也虚空（V4-8）

接着，V4-8所罗门回想过去的年日，自己如何大兴土木，建造房屋，栽种葡萄园、积蓄财宝、上千妃嫔的事。的确所罗门享尽了人生的荣华富贵，他的皇朝也是以色列最富有的王朝之一。胜过以前在耶路撒冷众人所有的。但从圣经的记载，我们知道这些妃嫔，最终带给他的是离弃神，敬拜偶像，所以也是虚空。

自古以来，多少家财万贯的富豪，赚得人生一桶又一桶的金，得着生活中所需的一切，大房子、各种名牌大房车，三妻四妾，要什么有什么。但他们就一定幸福快乐吗？每天徘徊在妻妾的争风吃醋中、子孙为家产的尔虞我诈中。试问这样的人生，有什么喜乐可言？当然到头来还是虚空。在这两年的疫情使许多家财万贯的人破产，有些因为承受不了而自杀。

3.名利地位更虚空（V9-11）

这里提到所罗门的辉煌时刻，财富与日俱增，胜过以前在耶路撒冷的众人。外在的快乐和精神的享受，他都经历过了。并且事业的成功的确也让他乐在其中。但这些快乐和满足却随着时间的流逝，迅速消褪。因此他最后的结论是，日光之下所有从物欲得到的满足都无法持久，包挂名利地位。

许多人一生追求名利地位，在职场上叱咤风云，得到了想要的一切，却仍然无法填补心灵的虚空。因此我们看到许多人会穷极一生，劳劳碌碌为得更高的名利地位奔波。但当人归入尘土后，一切都画上句号。有多少人的名还会被人纪念呢？因此，如果我们把名利地位作为生命的追求目标，到头来肯定也会失望。

再说，多少女子以物质的享受为人生追求的目标，为了名牌包包、钓金龟婿，但她们真的快乐满足吗？其实不然。现实生活里，多少人为了赚更多钱、拥有上好的物质享受，失去了自由、失去了自尊、出卖肉体等。到了人老珠黄时，回头看自己的一生，留下的只是许多的悔恨和悲惨，尽都虚空。

小结：

所罗门透过肉体享乐、产业和财宝、还有名利地位来追求满足，但这一切都不能为他带来持久的满足。

难道人在世上活着，就不可以有物质上的享受吗？不应该渴望事业有成、有家业、过富足的人生吗？

绝对不是！大地是神为人类所造的，其上的一切福乐都是神要让人去享受的。但就如路加福音所说的：一个人就是赚得了全世界，却丧失了自己，或赔上了自己，到底有什么益处呢？人对物质享受当有的态度既不是贪得无厌、也不是及时行乐。更不是以此为人生的终极目标。要知道一切祝福都来自神，所以当以感恩和知足的心去领受，并用先神后人再大地法则去追求神所赐的福，那人的心灵就必得满足。

二、依靠智慧也捕风（V12-23）

所罗门得到了喜乐和享受都是虚空的结论后，转念观看智慧、狂妄，和愚昧。而他得到的结论是，在日光之下的智慧、狂妄、愚昧都和享乐看起来好像不同，但结局都是一样。因为依靠智慧也是捕风，都不能满足人的心灵。因为智慧和愚昧的人同样都必死。

1.智慧愚昧都必死（V12-17）

所罗门虽看出智慧胜过愚昧，如同光明胜过黑暗。但却明白到两等人的结局都一样，就是都会死。死后也不会被人纪念。因此心里说，这也是虚空。

其实，智慧是不可或缺的，因为智慧能为我们的生命作出诊断，让我们可以减少人生道路上的出错，少走冤枉路。不过智慧不是药方，它无法医治虚空这疾病。所以人不能依赖智慧成为终极资源。没有人能靠智慧掌握人生，免去肉体的死亡。

最近我的一个组员就和我分享神透过传道书光照她里面还有许多的骄傲。她说一直以来都觉得自己还算有智慧聪明的，所以有后时候看到一些人对一些教导或问题处理不知所措时，她心里就会有意念觉得，为什么这么简单都不会。神让她看到所罗门王，圣经称他为最有智慧的人，到最后都能落得如此失望和懊悔的地步，更何况是她这小小的聪明智慧呢？人其实只要一刻离开神，不小心就会掉入恶者的圈套，行出愚昧人的事，所以没有可夸的。

我们看所罗门，聪明反被聪明误。以为娶周围外邦的公主可以巩固他的国位，最终却败在自己的智慧中。

3.劳碌所得带不走（V18-23）

这里所罗门再提到，他靠智慧劳碌所得的一切，也将会是虚空。因为死亡将终止人所有的雄心和梦想，人在日光之下所劳碌、辛苦得来的，不能永远属于自己，而要留给未曾劳碌的人享受。

人生短短，人的享受是有限的，一个人只有一双脚，一个身体。出门一趟能穿几双鞋，几件衣服呢？一个人能坐几辆车，住几间屋子呢？也有许多为了要儿女有好日子过，一生劳碌、忙于工作而忽略教养孩子，最后劳碌所得的都让孩子败光。

我的一个妹妹其实已经很有钱了，但还是不停的为孩子劳碌。买房子、买车、买地，为他们的将来预备。但是却把自己的身体搞到要垮了。常常为赚多点钱而愁烦，连夜间心也不安，并且失眠。

因此，人在日光之下的劳碌，过程的快乐和成功的兴奋都是短暂的，不但不能让人在过程中得着满足，反而让人身心疲惫。除非我们把所劳碌的都转到日光之上。

总结：为神而活不虚空（V24-26）

‘谁能胜过我呢？’按原文翻译是‘离开祂，谁能有呢？’意思指在神以外，人没有真实的吃喝享福。

所罗门之所以觉得生命的意义都是虚空，是因为他的眼光很狭窄，把视野都定睛在‘日光之下’，在乎属世的各种寻求。但当他把眼目定睛在‘日光之上’时，就发现人生不但有神所命定的永恒蒙福结局，而且在世活着也能享有神的赐福和丰盛。

弟兄姐妹，人生只能活一次，昨天已经过去，不能重来。生命活着的意义何在？到老了才来发现错过今生，实在很可悲。所以，让我们透过今天的经文，再次把我们的视野对准日光之上的神，从神的眼光来看人生，以永恒的角度来活出今生，叫我们的一生所做的都不会落入虚空！

Ecclesiastes 2: The Pursue Under the Sun
GK611 Morning Devotion
8/2/2022
Speaker: IP Deborah Tan

Introduction: The Pursue Under the Sun

Brothers and sisters, I wonder if you read the book of Ecclesiastes with a feeling of pessimism, hopelessness and despair about life? We know that this is Solomon’s conclusion after he experienced the ups and downs, the sweet and sour, and the bitterness of life, and after he entered his old age, he looked back on what he had experienced in his life and wrote it to admonish his children and his people. I can easily find that when Solomon wrote his Ecclesiastes, he had many disappointments and remorse about his life. He found that his life’s pursuit under the sun had led to irrevocable regrets because he had misplaced his focus, resulting in all that he had sought in his life falling into vain. How can we live a life that is not in vain? How can we pursue the blessings of the daylight so that they will not be in vain?

1. The Pursuit of Material Desires is Emptiness (v1-11)

（1）Physical feasting is emptiness (v1-3)

Jocular = refers to superficial joy. Joy = refers to restrained merriment

Solomon’s life in the king’s palace must have been full of laughter and joy, no matter what kind of food, drink, and feasting. He even tried to satisfy himself by letting his flesh enjoy itself while using reason to control himself in his mind, and by having restrained pleasure, but in the end he found that his mind still fell into emptiness.

Many people sing night and day, and have a good time, in order to make the body satisfied and happy. But after sobering up, or in the dead of night, you will find out how empty the heart is. Many young people have become unwed mothers as a result of drunkenness in entertainment venues and nightclubs. There are also those who are addicted to drugs and tempted to drug trafficking because of this, abound. Even if this is not the case, there are also a lot of people who have gotten bad health because of eating and drinking, pawned off their liver and ate the three highs.

Therefore, if a person tries to gain joy by eating, drinking and playing to satisfy the flesh, he will end up in emptiness.

(2) All the wealth of his house was in vain (v4-8)

Then, in v4-8, Solomon recalls the past years, how he built houses, planted vineyards, accumulated treasures, and thousands of concubines. Indeed Solomon had enjoyed all the glory and wealth of life, and his dynasty was one of the richest in Israel. It was more than all the people in Jerusalem had before. But we know from the biblical account that these concubines, in the end, brought him to turn away from God and worship idols, and so also to be in vain.

Since ancient times, many wealthy people have earned buckets and buckets of gold, and have everything they need in life, big houses, big cars, three wives and four concubines, whatever they want. But are they necessarily happy? Every day wandering in the jealousy of wives and concubines, children and grandchildren for the family assets of the fraud. What joy is there in such a life? In the end, of course, it is still empty. In the past two years, the epidemic has bankrupted many people who have a lot of money, and some of them committed suicide because they could not bear it.

(3) Fame and position are more vain (v9-11)

Here is mentioned the glorious moment of Solomon, when his wealth increased day by day, more than all those who were before him in Jerusalem. He had experienced both external pleasures and spiritual enjoyment. And the success of his business did make him happy. But these pleasures and satisfactions faded quickly with the passage of time. So his final conclusion was that all materialistic satisfaction under the sun cannot last, including fame and status.

Many people spend their lives in pursuit of fame and status, and they get everything they want in the workplace, but they still can’t fill the emptiness in their hearts. So we see that many people will spend their lives working hard to get higher fame and status. But when people return to the dust, everything comes to an end. How many people’s names will still be remembered? Therefore, if we make fame and status the goal of our lives, we will surely be disappointed in the end.

Besides, how many women take material enjoyment as the goal of life, in order to brand-name bags, to catch a golden son-in-law, but are they really happy and satisfied? In fact, they are not. In reality, how many people have lost their freedom, lost their self-esteem, sold their bodies, etc. in order to earn more money and have good material enjoyment. When they get old, they look back on their lives and are left with a lot of regret and misery, all in vain.

Summary:

Solomon sought satisfaction through carnal pleasures, possessions and treasures, and fame and position, but none of these brought him lasting satisfaction.

Is it not possible for a man to live in the world and have material pleasures? Shouldn’t one desire to have a successful career, a home, and a rich life?

Absolutely not! The earth was created by God for mankind, and all the blessings on it were intended by God to be enjoyed by man. But, as Luke says: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, but lose himself or lose himself?

The attitude one should have toward material enjoyment is neither insatiable nor timely. Nor is it the ultimate goal of life. We should know that all blessings come from God, so we should receive them with gratitude and contentment, and pursue God’s blessings with the law of God before man, and then we will be satisfied in our hearts.

2. Relying on Wisdom also Catches the Wind (v12-23)

Having come to the conclusion that joy and enjoyment are vanity, Solomon turned his mind to watch wisdom, arrogance, and foolishness. And he came to the conclusion that wisdom, arrogance, and foolishness under the sun are all the same as enjoyment, which seem to be different, but have the same end. For to rely on wisdom is also to catch the wind, and none of them can satisfy the mind of man. For the wise and the foolish alike shall die.

(1) Both the wise and foolish will die (v12-17)

Solomon saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, as light is better than darkness. But he understood that the end is the same for both, that is, they will both die. And after death they will not be remembered. Therefore, he said in his heart, “This too is vanity.

In fact, wisdom is indispensable, because it can diagnose our life, so that we can reduce the mistakes on the road of life and take less wrongful paths. But wisdom is not a remedy, it cannot cure the disease of emptiness. Therefore, one cannot rely on wisdom to be the ultimate resource. No one can master life by wisdom and be spared from physical death.

One of my group members recently shared with me that God had illuminated a lot of pride in her through Ecclesiastes. She said that she had always thought she was wise and intelligent, so sometimes when she saw people who were overwhelmed by some teaching or problems, she would think to herself, “Why can’t I do something so simple? God showed her that King Solomon, whom the Bible calls the wisest of men, could end up in such a state of disappointment and remorse, let alone her little wisdom and intelligence. In fact, if a person leaves God for a moment, he will fall into the trap of hunger and do the deeds of a foolish man, so there is nothing to boast about.

Let us look at Solomon, who was so wise that he was mistaken for a wise man. He thought he could consolidate his kingdom by going around the foreign princesses, but in the end he lost in his own wisdom.

(2) The proceeds of toil cannot be carried away (v18-23)

Here Solomon mentions again that all that he has gained by wise toil will also be in vain. For death will put an end to all man’s ambitions and dreams, and what man has labored and toiled for under the sun will not be his own forever, but will be left for the enjoyment of those who have not labored.

Life is short, and one’s enjoyment is limited; one has only one pair of feet and one body. How many pairs of shoes and clothes can one wear on a trip? How many cars can a person take and how many rooms can a person live in? There are also many people who work hard all their lives and neglect raising their children in order for them to have a good life, and they let their children lose all the money they earn from their hard work.

One of my sisters is actually very rich, but she still keeps working hard for her children. She bought a house, a car, and land to prepare for their future. But it’s a good thing that you’re going to break your own body. They are often worried about making more money, and even at night they are restless and have insomnia.

Therefore, the joy of labor under the sun and the excitement of success are short-lived and do not lead to satisfaction in the process, but rather to physical and mental exhaustion. Unless we turn all our labors to the light of day.

Conclusion: Living for God is not in vain (v24-26)

‘Who can overcome me?’ Translated according to the original text as ‘apart from Him, who can have it?’ The meaning refers to the fact that outside of God, man has no real food or drink to enjoy.

Solomon felt that the meaning of life was all vanity because he had a narrow vision, fixing his eyes on ‘under the sun’ and caring about all kinds of earthly pursuits. But when he fixed his eyes on ‘above the sun’, he found that life not only has a God-ordained eternal blessed end, but also enjoys God’s blessings and abundance while living on earth.

Brothers and sisters, life can only be lived once, and yesterday is gone and cannot be repeated. What is the meaning of life? It is sad to find out that you missed this life only when you are old. Therefore, let us look at today’s scripture and once again direct our vision to God above the sun, see life from God’s perspective, and live this life from the perspective of eternity, so that what we do in our life will not be in vain!

04/02/2022

引言：所罗门传道所传的人生之道！

我相信《传道书》的作者是所罗门王（V1，12），即使现代有些学者推论作者和写作年代可能是被虏或回归以后的写作。因为传道书一开头就已经确实的表明身份。

然而除主以外，谁配的讲解人生？这位举世闻名，财富、身份、地位、学识、智慧都堪称第一的所罗门王，他怎么讲解人生呢？所罗门年轻时期写雅歌，心中充满对男女之爱的感觉。后来在中年时期写箴言，劝勉孩子说：我儿啊，要提防女人•••。而到了年纪老迈，看尽人间世态之后，就写了传道书，让我们就透过传道书来领受人生的智慧。

一、人生是虚空？（V1-11）

1.凡事都是虚空（V1-3）

1:1 在耶路撒冷作王，大卫的儿子传道者的言语。
1:2 传道者说：虚空的虚空，虚空的虚空，凡事都是虚空。
1:3 人一切的劳碌，就是他在日光之下的劳碌，有什么益处呢？

本书作者所罗门称自己为qoheleth，中文翻译为传道者，也可翻译成哲学家、教师、或者是一场辩论会到主持人。而这场辩论会是在这位尝尽了人生各种经历的老人家脑中进行。传道书中有许多内容都是一种两级的对比，而且结论是负面而失望的。即是这样为何本书会成为圣经的一部分呢？正因为所罗门是唯一一位经历过最多元化体验的智慧之王，他体验过世上的一切美事之后都无法得到长久的满足，所以结论就是虚空。

在此，所罗门先为【日光之下】的一切劳碌下来一个结论，毫无益处！很多人也许不赞同作者的说法，因为我们确实经历过一份耕耘一分收获；有付出就有所得不是吗？怎么会是虚空呢？其实那是我们还没有经历得够深够多够广。我们始终都有一个期待更好的盼望，或者认为自己已经够多了，所以才没有所罗门的这种感受。但是人一旦有机会可以梦想，人就会开始发现自己的不满足。

如果人生只为了劳碌，人生就真的是一场虚空！没有太大的意义。亚当犯罪的结果就是劳劳碌碌才得糊口，这和神本来的计划相差甚远。无神的人生就是这样，即使家境富裕，也是转眼即逝。

2.世事周而复始（V4-7）

1:4 一代过去，一代又来，地却永远长存。
1:5 日头出来，日头落下，急归所出之地。
1:6 风往南刮，又向北转，不住地旋转，而且返回转行原道。
1:7 江河都往海里流，海却不满；江河从何处流，仍归还何处。

当我回想我走到如今的人生，我年幼的时候，侍候过94岁的曾祖母吃云吞，也曾经是我爷爷眼中的乖孙子。后来爷爷过世了，还有许多与爸爸互动和交谈的记忆，我是爸爸眼中的好孩子，但是后来爸爸也回天家了。如今我是两个儿女的爸爸，女儿成家了，我也年过半百迈向人生下半场。经过这半个多世纪的时间，陈家已经出现过五个世代，而世世代代都住在同一个地球上的区域，但是人生舞台上的人物与服装已经改头换面了好几回。曾经叱咤风云又如何？如今早已无人纪念，消失无踪。

太阳、风向、水流也都是周而复始的不住循环；甚至从所罗门写传道书之前，大自然的运转已经是这样。而到2022年的今天，我们在读这一章经文的时候，大自然界的太阳、风向、水流还是一样的重复运转。这要表达什么呢？我们在世界上的年日真的很长吗？从时间的角度来看，可以有两种感觉观点：快乐的事我们觉得怎么时间过得那么快？对痛苦的事为什么时间过得那么慢？但是从神的眼光来看，眨眼间就过了。我们又留下什么或得到了什么呢？日光之下，这些都是会过去的琐碎事。如果要重播往事，过程中难免辛酸苦辣，喜忧参半，快乐事也只是过眼云烟。什么才是有永久价值的呢？

（我所饲养的金鱼，曾有好些天是非常活泼健康，让人赞叹，美丽无比，心情舒畅。但是气温和水质有所不同时，病的病、死的死，好景不长，时过境迁。人生何尝不是如此？）

3.人心永远不足（V8-11）

1:8 万事令人厌烦（或作“万物满有困乏”），人不能说尽。眼看，看不饱；耳听，听不足。
1:9 已有的事，后必再有；已行的事，后必再行。日光之下，并无新事。
1:10 岂有一件事人能指着说这是新的？哪知，在我们以前的世代，早已有了。
1:11 已过的世代，无人记念；将来的世代，后来的人也不记念。

万事都令人厌烦或感到困倦？为什么这样说呢？美食、美事、美名、美人、美金不是许多人在追求的人生目标吗？而且真的得到之后不是就满足了吗？不！好还要更好、多还要更多、有了还要健康和长寿，否则又如何享受呢？因此，总有不足的地方。

【人心不足蛇吞象】这句话是在表达人的贪念与无止尽的渴望。古人是这样，现代人也是这样，没有新事，因为人性的渴望是一样的。尽管世界上的发明让环境和社会、生活方式变得很不同，但是其本质还是一样的，人并没有因为得了大家都梦寐以求的东西就满足了。未得到之前尚有一个盼望，得到之后就失去了先前的那个“盼望”，而是渐渐的失去初得到之时的那种满足感。

人生真的是虚空吗？没有意义吗？很显然，作者是这样的感受，当他是在几乎经历完世人所渴望的一切美事之后，才得到这样的感受。如果人只追求日光之下的事情。很显然，没有以神为中心的人生就是这样不是吗？

二、万事皆虚空？（V12-18）

1.过来人的感受（V12-14）

1:12 我传道者在耶路撒冷作过以色列的王。
1:13 我专心用智慧寻求查究天下所作的一切事，乃知　神叫世人所经练的是极重的劳苦。
1:14 我见日光之下所作的一切事，都是虚空，都是捕风。

作者讲述自己做过以色列的王，是最有智慧的王，而且查考过天下人所作的一切事情。结论是神让人经历极重的劳苦。这是亚当犯罪之后的结果，不料世世代代的人都在这样的限制之下生活。一生劳苦愁烦，最后将如飞而去，这也是年老的摩西的诗篇90篇里所描述的人生。（诗篇90:10）

常言道：人生不如意事十之八九！所罗门得到他想得到的一切，名成利就，但是这一切并非长久，所以如同捕风！人生不一定什么事情都要用自己的时间去经历，而是可以从他人的经历学功课和教训，否则最后的虚空感会更多！

2.知识增加苦恼（V15-18）

1:15 弯曲的不能变直，缺少的不能足数。
1:16 我心里议论说，我得了大智慧，胜过我以前在耶路撒冷的众人，而且我心中多经历智慧和知识的事。
1:17 我又专心察明智慧、狂妄和愚昧，乃知这也是捕风。
1:18 因为多有智慧，就多有愁烦；加增知识的，就加增忧伤。

弯曲的不能变直，缺少的不能足数！这句话似乎说得很消极，我们不是常说在基督里没有难成的事，人生都可以重来。这确实是在基督里的写照，否则人生就是一首由许多的挫败所写成的扭曲之歌。

世上有人自以为聪明过人，也有人愚昧无知，放纵人生，但是如果两个都没有认识永恒的神，人生到头还是一场空，就如同捕风，都是虚空。

多有智慧知识就多有烦恼忧伤？这句话话对吗？不懂得做某样事是因为没有知识，这才令人烦恼不是吗？一旦学会了、有知识了，不就可以解决问题了吗？初步而看是对的，但是长远来看的时候，能者多劳，一个问题解决了又有新的问题，问题永远没完没了。忙碌苦恼到年老发白的时候，才发现原来家里的猫没什么知识，牠只顾有吃有睡又有得玩就够了，牠就这样度过快乐的一生。

例如婴孩只要有吃有睡有人抱，他就开心满足了。但是当人越来越懂事情之后，人就越来越劳苦愁烦不是吗？人生的成长过程中知识越来越多，烦恼也跟着越来越多不是吗？但是，这并不表示我们最好不要追求长进，如果是那样的话，我们的人生会出现不同的苦恼，一生无成。

总结：过新年更新对人生的理解

人生不能失去以神为中心，以神的事为念，否则人生只有越来越多的重担苦恼！世上的知识学问我们需要了解，但是对神的真理更是不能减少，否则我们所得到都只是一场游戏一场梦，到头都是虚空。

Ecclesiastes 1: A Life Of Emptiness In The Daylight
GK611 Morning Devotion
4/2/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction:

The way of life preached by Solomon!

1. Life is Vanity? (Acts 1:1-11)

(1) All things are vanity (v1-3)

Solomon, the author of this book, calls himself qoheleth, which is translated as preacher in Chinese, and can also be translated as philosopher, teacher, or a moderator of the debate. And this debate is conducted in the mind of this old man who has tasted all kinds of experiences in life. Much of the book of Ecclesiastes is a two-tiered comparison and the conclusion is negative and disappointing. Why is this book a part of the Bible? It is because Solomon was the only wise king who experienced the most diverse experiences, and he could not be satisfied for long after experiencing all the beauty of the world, so the conclusion is emptiness.

Here, Solomon first concludes that all the toil [under the sun] is useless! Many may disagree with the author’s statement, for we do experience that you reap what you sow; if you give, you get, don’t you? How can it be empty? In fact, that is because we have not experienced more than enough, deep enough and wide enough. We always have a hope of expecting better, or we think we have enough, that’s why we don’t have the feeling of Solomon. But once one has the opportunity to dream, one begins to find oneself unsatisfied.

If life only comes to toil, life is really a vanity! There is not much meaning.

(2) The world goes around and around (V4-7)

When I think back on my life to where I am today, I served my 94-year-old great-grandmother wonton when I was young and used to be a good grandson in my grandfather’s eyes. Then my grandfather passed away, and there are many memories of interacting and talking with my dad, and I was a good boy in his eyes, but then my dad went back to his heavenly home as well. Now I am the father of two children, my daughter has a family, and I am over half a century old, moving into the second half of my life. After more than half a century, the Tan family has appeared for five generations, and generations have lived in the same area of the earth, but the characters and costumes on the stage of life have changed several times. So what if they once reigned supreme? Now long unremembered and disappeared without a trace.

The sun, the wind, and the currents of water are also in the same unrelenting cycle from week to week; even from before Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, nature has been operating in this way. And today, in the year 2022, as we read this chapter of scripture, the sun, the wind, and the currents of nature are still running the same way over and over again. What is the point of this? Are our years in the world really long? From the perspective of time, there can be two sensory perspectives: for happy things we feel how time flies so fast? For the painful things, why does time pass so slowly? But from God’s perspective, it passes in the blink of an eye. And what do we leave behind or what do we gain? Under the light of day, these are trivial things that will pass. If we were to replay the past, the process would inevitably be bitter and tough, with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, and the happy things would just be passing by. What is of permanent value?

(3) The heart of man is never satisfied (V8-11)

Are all things tiresome or sleepy? Why do you say so? Aren’t food, beauty, fame, beauty, and dollars the goals of life that many people are seeking? And won’t they be satisfied when they do get them? No! How can we enjoy good and better, more and more, health and longevity if we have them? Therefore, there is always a shortage.

[The heart is not enough to swallow the elephant by a snake] This phrase is expressing the greed and endless longing of human beings. This was true for the ancients, and it is true for modern people as well. There is nothing new, because the longing of human nature is the same. Although the inventions in the world have made the environment and the society and the way of life very different, the essence is still the same, and man is not satisfied just because he has got what everyone dreams of. There is still a hope before we get it, but after we get it, we lose the “hope” we had before, and gradually lose the satisfaction we had when we first got it.

Is life really empty? Is it meaningless? Obviously, the author felt this way, when he got this feeling after experiencing almost all the beautiful things that the world desires. If man only pursues what is under the sun. Obviously, a life without God as the center is like that, isn’t it?

2. All Works are vanity? (Acts 1:12-18)

(1) The feelings of those who have been there (V12-14)

The writer tells that he was the king of Israel, the wisest of kings, and has examined all the things done by the people of the world. The conclusion is that God made man go through very heavy labor. This was the result of Adam’s sin, and it was expected that all generations would live under such restrictions. Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. the same life described in Psalm 90 of the aged Moses. (Psalm 90:10)
It is often said that nine out of ten things in life are not as they should be! Solomon got everything he wanted, and became famous, but it did not last, so it was like catching the wind!

(2) Knowledge increases distress (V15-18)

What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted! This statement seems to be very negative, but we often say that in Christ there is nothing hard to achieve, and that life can start over again. This is indeed a picture of what is in Christ, otherwise life is a twisted song written by many frustrations.

There are people in the world who think they are too wise, and there are also people who are foolish and ignorant and indulge in life, but if both do not know the eternal God, life is still vanity in the end, just like catching the wind, and all is vanity.

More wisdom and knowledge means more troubles and sorrows? Is this statement correct? You don’t know how to do something because you don’t have knowledge, and that’s what bothers you, isn’t it? Once you learn and have knowledge, can’t you solve the problem? Initially, it is right, but in the long run, those who are able will do more work, one problem is solved and then there are new problems, and the problems are never ending. It is only when you are busy and distressed to the point of old age that you realize that the cat in the house has no knowledge, it only cares about eating, sleeping and playing. This is how he spends his happy life.

For example, a baby is happy and satisfied as long as it has food, sleep and someone to hold it. But when people know more and more about things, they become more and more tired and worried, don’t they? In the process of growing up in life, as we gain more and more knowledge, our worries also increase, don’t they? However, this does not mean that we better not pursue growth, if that is the case, our life will appear different distress, a lifetime without success.

Conclusion: Renewing the understanding of life over the New Year

Life cannot lose its God-centeredness, or else life will only become more and more burdensome and distressing! We need to understand the knowledge of the world, but the truth of God cannot be reduced, otherwise all we get is just a game and a dream, and in the end it is all empty.