Jesus alone guarantees

(Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

I became great, greater than all those who were before me in Jerusalem. And even my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired, I did not deprive them of it; I did not deny my heart any joy; for my heart took pleasure in all my work, and that was my portion. (Ecclesiastes 2:9-10)

It is with this verse that we can sum up Ecclesiastes' words in this passage. In the end, Ecclesiastes concludes that all is vanity. No profit; after all, you have to leave everything behind. The rich man dies, and so does the poor man. So do the wise and the foolish.

King Solomon was very happy, very rich and very powerful. By contrast, none of this could replace the guarantee of God's presence in his life. Nothing. And what can guarantee our lives without Jesus Christ?

Solomon said that even joy is still offered by God. (Ecc.2:26) Jesus added, "What good is it for a man to gain everything if he loses his soul? What can he give in exchange for his soul?" (Mat.16:26)

Attaching oneself to Jesus Christ is a perfect guarantee for our present and future lives. Jesus taught us to love God and our neighbor. For us, this constitutes reasonable worship, a true source of blessing and salvation, a guarantee. Do we need to murder for fleeting glory or for a political post that we have to give up the next day? Vanity.

There were men among us who were reputed to be wiser and more powerful in Africa and around the world, but who were unable to overcome disease and death despite their considerable means.
Let us seek faith in Jesus Christ and love of neighbor, which will bring us perpetual good. Amen!

Pasteur Clémentine