Balance

Life is truly not as simple as some would have you believe. King Solomon is discovering in chapter 4 what life is like for other people who don’t have all his advantages. As a result, all of his previous thoughts about how boring life was and how meaningless it was, turned out to be somewhat naive.

Many years ago, Billy Graham famously stated that he read the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other hand. Simply stated, the Word of God is to be applied and understood to be relevant to life in the here and now. One of my professors cautioned us about becoming scholars only. He stated that not only must we be students of the Word, but students of people and the world around us.

Solomon recognizes that nobody knows what problems we may encounter or when we might encounter them. Today, we’ll be looking at life with Solomon in four different situations.

For the Christ-follower, contentment comes with wisdom and a balanced approach to life.

Courtroom - 4:1-3

We would like to believe that the court system provides justice and makes sure that everything is dealt with fairly. Yet, we all know that is not always the case. Even in Israel’s situation, God had given His perfect Law and prescribed how things were to be done in fairness, righteousness, and justice. However, where there are people who do not fully believe that there is absolute truth based on God’s laws, there will be a twisting and perversion of justice. Even Solomon discovered that he couldn’t guarantee trustworthy officials at all levels of his government.

The scene which we read described to us by Solomon is that of him watching a trial in a courtroom. What he observed was not what should have been. Corrupt officials were oppressing and ruling against innocent people. Regardless of the pleas of the victims, they were not heard. In fact, Solomon writes that they had no one to comfort them. Those who had the power to do right chose to do wrong against the innocent. The innocent were totally helpless.

This caused Solomon to make a somewhat rash statement. Verses 2-3 are basically Solomon stating that it would be better for all to be dead as opposed to being alive and treated so wrongly. Though we might think Solomon was overreacting, many have thought very similar thoughts. We have heard Job make similar comments when he wished he’d never have been born. You and I have most likely heard similar sentiments expressed by people we know or even by our own lips. Or we may have uttered how we wished things were the way they used to be in the old days.

I, along with many others, find ourselves wondering why Solomon didn’t just clean house. After all, he’s the king. Well, some would suggest that this would have created more problems. Even in our system today, many well-meaning people want to dive in and clean house on their own. As believers in Christ, our first responsibility is to pray for those in authority. We also work cooperatively at making sure laws are passed and enforced that are right and just and not oppressive and unfair. We work within the framework that is biblical and legal in order to ensure that inappropriate laws are not passed that are ungodly and hurtful. But when unrighteousness seems to rule, we pray and live righteously.

Very few people have read the book by Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Even I have only read parts of it. He makes a very interesting quote: political corruption was the most infallible symptom of constitutional liberty. You see, we have the freedom to obey and to pursue many positive things. However, this liberty also gives the opposite freedom. There are those who believe you can pursue whatever you want because it’s a free country. That is a people, quite similar to what Solomon observed, who think they are above the law.

Things were definitely out of balance.

Commerce - 4:4-8

It is almost as if Solomon is on a journey and as he leaves a very depressing court scene, he goes into the work world to see what he can learn. He’s going to be watching various workers and discovers four different styles of people.

The first is the hard-working individual. This is what one ought to expect since work is a gift from God and if one wishes to better oneself, they need to work hard. This individual wasn’t just working hard, he was good at what he did. However, what he was able to do did not reflect who he truly was. His hands were amazing, but his heart was cold. It seemed that the reason the workers were so skilled and gifted and hard-working was simply for themselves. They were interested in only being the best and the greatest and the richest. They were not working to be a blessing to others by what they made. They just wanted to be number one.

This was disappointing to Solomon, knowing that work was not for selfish gain. Friends, what a reminder for us. We don’t want to work hard to just have more stuff or keep ahead of someone else. It’s almost like a sports team who have been told to win at whatever cost is necessary. Getting ahead in business by stepping on the little people is never a good thing. The motivation was for self-ego and false pride.

Then Solomon finds someone on the opposite end of the spectrum. Personally, I call this person lazy. Solomon understood very quickly the futility of this person’s work ethic. He knew that it was an easy trip to self-destruction. Relaxing and sleeping in may be enjoyable once in awhile. But this person had taken it to the extreme so he didn’t have the ability to have the basics. The motivation seemed to be temporary pleasure.

Verse 6 seems to be a well-balanced individual. He appeared to work hard and had the ability to take a rest. What needed to be done, he would gladly do it. Yet, he never seemed to be ruled by his work. Friends, Solomon is reminding us to not work ourselves into a frenzy or to death, as it were. Paul worded it quite well in

1 Timothy 6:6 NASB95

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

Looking at these 3 different people, we see that money cannot buy peace, since there’s always more that could be done. We recognize that laziness is self-destructive and is certainly not a pathway to peace. However the balanced individual seems to have discovered the ability to enjoy the gift of work and relaxation, being ruled by neither.

This last man is somewhat like the lone ranger in his philosophy. As we look at verses 7-8, Solomon engages this individual and discovers the aloneness of the individual. Not only was he doing everything by himself, he wanted to be by himself. He wanted to keep everything for himself and share it with nobody else. However, in his efforts, he just kept working to accumulate more and more, never getting the opportunity to enjoy the fruit of his labors. Even worse, when he would die, he would have nobody to share or receive his wealth. Basically, all that he was doing was for nothing.

Warren Wiersbe summarized it perfectly: Blessed are the balanced.

Countryside - 4:9-12

As Solomon left the independent, isolated worker, he began to evaluate the importance of working with others and that of friendship. All of us have experienced the proverb, many hands make light work. One afternoon, I came home early to put wood into the woodshed. Jannita came out to help me and we more than doubled my efforts. Then Mindy and Margo came out (after my wife “encouraged” them to help) and they became part of the team. We accomplished a great deal more than what I could have done by myself. I especially love the fall when we have what is referred to as a wood party. We literally are having fun as we encourage each other in the task at hand.

Verse 10 is more easily understood if we remember the time in which this was written. People usually walked from one location to another. Paths and roads were not even as nice as those in Maine. People could trip, fall into a hole, you name it. If you’re by yourself, that could be a real problem. But if someone is with you, you could rely upon their help to lean on or to be held up or to be lifted out.

I’d like to suggest that today this principle can apply to our lives as Christians. It is quite easy to get tripped up by this world or to even get off the main path. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a brother or sister in Christ who could help us on the journey? Think about someone who would gladly lend you a hand to steady you on your spiritual walk. Consider someone that would steer you away from the pitfalls of life instead of goading you to jump into the dangerous hole. I am so thankful for people over the years who have come alongside me and helped correct my direction so I would not wander astray.

Solomon speaks of warming each other in verse 11. That is far better than traveling alone with the extra baggage of more blankets. It is common knowledge that Palestinian nights are quite cold. If you are traveling, then the only real warmth is the outer garment that is worn during the trip. There’s something to be considered when two are helping each other stay warm. According to several commentators, this is also metaphorical, as seen by the style of writing. There is the idea of having someone who will provide emotion warmth and comfort against this cold, cruel world. Maybe that’s why when someone gives us a hug when we’re going through difficult times, it feels so wonderful; as if we’re being encouraged that someone out there is going to help me to make it through whatever may be happening.

Then verse 12 speaks of safety. Even today, evil people try to find the single person and attack them. They are not as bold if there are two or more. I remember when I was working a field on the tractor as a high school senior and I shut down for the night around 10 parked the tractor in the spot in the field far away from the road where it was supposed to be. Then I had a 1/2 mile or so walk to my pickup; but it was nearly pitch black. I began my walk in the direction I remembered parking the pickup on the edge of the field. As I was walking by myself in the pitch black, some coyotes began howling some distance away. I recall wishing that I had a friend walking with me so the coyotes wouldn’t be so bold. Obviously I made it to the pickup just fine, but I can tell you that I slammed that door shut and started the pickup up as soon as I possibly could. I was really in no danger, but I would not have had as much fear if someone else had been with me.

Solomon uses a motif that is common with Hebrew literature as he movea from one, to two, then to three. Looking at a good rope, you can see the lesson easily. One strand is easily broken; two strands take a little more grunting and twisting before you can break them; three strands are extremely difficult to break. Three is the Hebrew number of completeness. Of course, as some of us saw from the wedding yesterday, this is also a description of one of the most amazing pictures of friendship and a marriage. The husband, the bride, and Jesus Christ. With such a combination, one can endure just about anything.

It’s kind of amazing what Solomon gleaned from his journey from the court, to the area of commerce, and then to just a walk in the countryside. Let’s see what he gleans from the castle.

Castle - 4:13-16

Here, we’ll come upon a situation where a person who is a commoner becomes king. We all understand and have observed how politics can be so frustrating as different individuals jockey to get the most power. We’ve watched as someone who is popular is picked for a position or a job just because of their popularity and not their qualifications.

We’re introduced to a king who apparently had started well, but got headstrong in his later years and refused to listen to good counsel and instruction from advisors. Many scholars suggest that this king was listening to people who sang his praise and presented only the information that kept them going strong, rather than all the facts. Sadly, whenever leaders forget that they are there for the benefit of the people over which they rule and begin to think that it is all about themselves, corruption and poor leadership ensues.

In verse 14, we are introduced to someone we would not expect to be king. He had been in prison, though we don’t know why. (Actually, Joseph found himself in a comparable situation.) Finally, there was wise leadership, though he did not come from wealth and had found himself in prison.

What exactly was Solomon trying to teach in this observation? The young man who became a king became rich, though he started out poor. The old foolish king had wealth and power, but he was very unwise in refusing to listen to his advisors and only heeded those who were in it for themselves. He would have been better off poor since he wasted his opportunity. In other words, this world’s idea of power and all the wealth a person might have does not guarantee wisdom or success. Also, a person who appears to have nothing, if wisdom is applied, could quite possibly end up with power and wealth.

But that’s not the end. For there are also those who will dislike and despise the individual in power and choose someone else. Thus, Solomon says one again, this too is vanity and striving after wind.

Conclusion

Again, we see that Solomon, as he went on this little journey, observing different situations, kept learning. He had no clear explanations or rationale as to why things were as they were. My friends, that is life. It can be complex and confusing. Everywhere he looked and studied, he saw some very frustrating and challenging situations that could cause anyone to throw their hands up in despair. But remember last time how he remembered that God was completely in charge.

But we don’t run away and hide, trying to escape from life. Life will continue on. We are a part of life and must meet it head-on. We can deal with life with the help of the Lord and give praise and glory to Him.

I enjoy my solitude when I’m reading or studying. But I really enjoy being with people who life me up and encourage me in my walk with the Lord. Balance in life with God’s wisdom seems to be the overall theme in this whole journey. Work or money or leisure by itself is not good. There must be a balance.

For the Christ-follower, contentment comes with wisdom and a balanced approach to life.