LIVING IN A WORLD GONE WRONG

SERIES: “UNDER THE SUN.”

TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 8:1-17.

In a world gone wrong, fear God and praise Him even in the fire. Find joy in life even when life is unpredictable, unfair and unjust. In this world people often don’t get what they deserve, so how do we live in such a world? How do we live in a world where leaders are capricious and unpredictable, a world where the wicked are praised, a world when good people die young? Ecclesiastes 8 tells us how to live in a world gone wrong.

• Ecclesiastes 8:1, “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.”
• When God’s face shines, He acts graciously-Numbers 6:25; Psalm 31:16; Daniel 9:17. A hard face indicates pride-Proverbs 7:13. A wise person acts graciously and humbly, especially before an unpredictable king.
• The king does what he pleases, whether right or wrong and no one can question him. So obey him and stay at your post whether you agree with the king or not-Ecclesiastes 8:2-4.

The wise person stays out of further trouble or evil with an unpredictable king. The wise person knows what to do and when to do it, especially when he or she is already suffering at the hands of the king-Ecclesiastes 8:5-6.

When a king’s policies bring harm, understand that you don’t know the future, you cannot postpone the day of your death, the king will not discharge you in the middle of a war, and wickedness will not save you.

So desertion or civil disobedience to the king provides no remedy for his hurtful edicts and policies. So what are you supposed to do when kings are capricious? What are you supposed to do when rulers are unpredictable or even harmful?-Ecclesiastes 8:7-9. Let us lean:-

WHEN KINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE-OBEY THEM ANYWAY.

• Romans 13:1, “Subject yourself to the governing authorities” when their policies align with God’s laws. But when their policies oppose God’s law, act wisely with grace and humility towards your rulers. Know what to do and when to do it without yourself violating God’s law-Acts 5:29.
• The New Testament is very clear, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and those who resist will incur judgement”-Rom. 13:1-2.
• This passage of scripture was written when Nero was the Emperor of Rome. He was a ruthless dictator who set Christians on fire as torches to light his gardens, Yet, by their grace and humility, their influence permeated the empire.
• Their influence permeated the empire that within 25 years, Rome had a christian emperor, Constantine, who sought to implement christian principles in the realm.
• When the Ottoman Empire threatened Europe, Martin Luther declared, “The Turk is the rod of God’s anger against the apostate church, so opposition to it must begin with repentance, prayer and preaching God’s word.”
• God does not call the believer to protest persecution, but to patiently endure it.
• Paul Borthwick in his book “Praying for the powers that Be,” states “If political leaders behavior or stance on issues contradicts what we believe the Bible teaches, we need to step back humbly and ask, Is God showing us something about our spiritual state?” and then repent of any sin he reveals.
• This is what it means to respond with grace and humility. Stop pointing the finger of blame, and ask God how He wants you to change.
• Rulers are unpredictable-obey them anyway-Eccl. 8:10-11.

SOCIETY IS UNFAIR-FEAR GOD ANYWAY.

• People praise the wicked and criticize the godly.
• The public is slow to punish evil people, which only encourages more evil.
• People speak well of the wicked at their funerals and society waits to punish the wicked when they are alive, only increasing the crime.
• The president of Kenya goes after his political enemies, while ignoring the criminals on our streets. As a result, the crime rate is way up.
• When justice is delayed, the hearts of men are set on doing evil.
• In Kenya the backlog of cases in our judicial system is so bad, cases go on for years attracting more crime and more corruption.
• The hearts of many Kenyans are set on doing crime and corrupt deals because they know that the law will never catch on them.
• Society is unfair. So what do you do in the face of such injustice?-Eccl. 8:12-13.
• Even though the wicked seem to get away with their crimes today, eventually, God will cut their days short. God’s patience will run out and He will judge the evil doers, so fear God.
• Society is unfair, but God is just. So fear Him anyway. Trust and obey God no matter what anybody else does.
• Fear God, feel safe in His presence, because you have trusted Christ with your life.
• Yes, society is unfair-But you fear God anyway.

LIFE IS UNJUST-REJOICE ANYWAY.

• The wicked prosper and the righteous meet with disaster sometimes, but praise God anyway. Express joy even when life treats you unjustly-Eccl. 8:14-15.
• Even though life is unfair sometimes, Solomon recommends both the inward attitude and the outward expression of joy.
• Although people cannot control or predict adversity or prosperity; however each day’s joy should be received as gifts from God’s hand and savored as God’s permits. See what St. James tells us in James 1:2-4.
• Always enjoy and observe the Sabbath rest and enjoy that which God has given you.
• Stop to rest, to feast, to smell the roses. Display a contentedness and calm acceptance about the world and the one who holds it together.

CONCLUSION

• Rulers are unpredictable- obey them anyway.
• Society is unfair- fear God anyway.
• Life is unjust-Rejoice anyway.
• Take the time, on a regular basis to appreciate the goodness of God in your life.
• That is the advice of a realist, who took a long hard look at life.
• Please look to God these days, Fear Him and praise Him even in the fire and so find joy in life even when it is unpredictable, unfair and unjust.