The Possibility of Wholeness

HIGHLIGHT: Ecclesiastes 7:29 But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

EXPLAIN: The teacher is writing to the son and dispensing wisdom they have learned along the way. Many find Ecclesiastes depressing on certain levels. The reason ~ everything is vain. There is a time for the good and he bad. Virtuous people cannot be found anywhere. What is the point to this life?

At the end of chapter seven, after talking about human wisdom, limits of wisdom and even looking for virtues among people, the teacher makes a startling statement. God created people to be be virtuous. The problem is they have turned inward and begun a downward spiral. This statement stopped me in my tracks.

God, in the beginning, created and it was good. When it came to people, he expressed that it was very good. God had taken chaos and created order. People were to trust the One who had provided place, purpose and even other people for this life. All they had to do was trust God by doing what he asked. Their choice? They decided they wanted to be like God - in control, in charge and following their own paths. Sin entered the world.

APPLY: In some ways, this statement would make many want to give up. Throw their hands up and quit. However, this is only part of the story. It is important, when we read through the Bible that their is the story of God moving throughout the entire text and we cannot simply rely on or understand one text apart from the whole.

Yes, God did create people to be virtuous. The word I prefer is whole, by which I mean complete in who they needed to be in life. We all have fallen short of that completeness and missed the mark for which we were created. We have broken our relationships with God - by choosing our own way above His. We have broken relationships with others - by choosing our good above others. And this has hurt us and brought brokenness in our lives.

I typically stay with one scripture and seek to understand, but it important that we know that Jesus came to restore us and make us whole. Jesus remarked often such things as - I have come to seek and save the lost...it is the sick that need a doctor. John, in his first letter, says, "My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 2:1)

It is true that I do not always act the way I desire. I can get cranky and have a gift when it comes to being a smart aleck. However, I can live a life of wholeness. It is possible to live each day without brokenness even to the point of living a life that is set apart for God's glory. The key is not living out of my strength, but trusting God to work in me and through me with every breath that enters and exits my lungs.

RESPONSE: Jesus, help me to look for you, to find you and you to follow you. May your strength be at work in me so that I may live a life of wholeness for your glory.