Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

After expressing hope that man can find meaning in his search for God (eternity in his heart), the author is confronted with another vanity or smoke. The author finds wickedness in two places: the courts and the religious institutions. A friend of mine recently faced an unfair, even false, accusation. It is hard to contemplate eternity in the heart when under the threat of injustice. It is also equally difficult to do so in the face of the evil of religious immorality.

This passage is difficult for us because the Hebrew word translated “spirit” can also be translated “breath,” as in the biological function of the lungs. Solomon is not questioning the immortality of the soul. He is pointing out that in the midst of injustice and irreligiousness, man is little better than an animal.

It is not hard to find injustice in government and wrong in the church. It is also easy to get wrapped up in a crusade to set things right. The problem is reform campaigns often fall into the trap of the same vice that they hope to correct. Since we can't predict the future of our reform measures, the best we can do is be happy with what we are doing.

“Lord, help me not to put my trust in religious movements or our government authorities but rather always in you. AMEN.”