The Central Moment

“Why” questions can sometimes paralyze us. The Teacher of Ecclesiastes encourages us to not try to understand everything but walk humbly before the Lord. We can be certain of one thing--the one who started a good work in us can certainly finish it!

If life ‘under the sun’ has no lasting meaning, then how should we live? The writer of Ecclesiastes tells us to not live it alone. Two are better than one. This is more than about marriage. It is about all of life, with Jesus at the center.

Death is the great equalizer. Rich and poor, wise and foolish -- they will all die in the end. And yet the resurrection of Jesus changes everything! Our living in this life can have significance that outlasts this life. We were made for eternity.

It is a gift from God to be able to enjoy his blessings, live fully, and enjoy work. Every good thing comes from him, and we can trust him with what we do not know about the future. The key is to put Jesus first.

Life is a mosaic of seasons. There can be a rhythmic beauty to those seasons, inviting us to not resist them. Yet those changing seasons cannot clue us into the changeless key to the meaning of life. Where can that be found?

To be satisfied, our souls need something other than ourselves at the center. They need the presence of our Creator. When creation itself becomes our idol, we turn toward the dark. But with our Creator at the center, everything else in life becomes vivid and meaningful.

Materialism redefines the meaning of life, locks us into an earthly value system, gives us a false sense of security, keeps us selfish and blinds us to Jesus’ mission. No wonder Jesus warned us so strenuously about it!

The pursuit of happiness ironically leaves us less happy than when we began when it is detached from a higher ideal. The idol of happiness will always leave us disappointed and depressed. But joy rooted in the Lord can be our hope.

Educational pursuits are noble and enlarging, but they cannot be an end in and of themselves. That will become a dead end. We must live for the author of truth Himself--and in doing so find a ‘fulfilled curiosity.’

The longings of the human heart seem to have no limit. Who or what can define meaning and satisfy our souls? In all of its cynicism, Ecclesiastes ultimately points us away from things ‘under the sun’ and up to the Son himself.

The one who called us can keep us -- body, soul and spirit. He is faithful and able to be trusted with our lives. And he is coming again! Meanwhile we walk in “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From the ‘Prayer Sandwich’ to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminds us that we live in a dynamic world of the Spirit where God is sovereign and we are participants. By giving place to the Spirit we can live discerningly and meaningfully.

Warn…encourage…help…be patient. Few places in Scripture will you find a more concise description of the breadth of relational interactions that we are to have with the people in our lives. This is how we live in peace with each other and build each other up.

Most of us live by the light of day but sleep by the darkness of night. The same holds true spiritually. We need to live in the light of Jesus and stay awake to both the spiritual dangers and the opportunities around us. But watch out for spiritual darkness -- it will put us to sleep!

The “I didn’t see that coming” moment is not usually a good one. Out of left field something sneaks up on us and takes us by total surprise. But may that not be the case when it comes to the suddenness of Jesus’ second coming.

God has an eternal plan for our bodies. It is neither reincarnation nor eternal annihilation. It is resurrection! For those who are in Christ, a moment will come when even our bodies will be made new -- eternally!

What Paul writes at the end of 1 Thessalonians 4 is more than something good to read at a funeral. It is our hope -- rooted in Christ’s resurrection and reaching all the way into our very real grief.

What does loving others ‘more and more’ mean for you? What is the next step in caring and serving while avoiding unwanted dependence? Surely there is a way forward that pleases the Lord! 

Contemporary culture has diverged significantly from the traditional Christian ethic regarding sexuality. But the truth of God’s word has not changed. Neither can it be subservient to what the culture celebrates and normalizes.

If grace is free, what does it mean to please God? Obviously the Apostle Paul considered pleasing God a core discipleship issue, but that is because we do not live pleasingly to earn grace, but because of grace.

How can Christians pray for one another? What about praying for their church? Paul gives us a helpful template when he prays for togetherness, overflowing love and a readiness for Christ’s return.

It is important for leaders to love their people more than their position. People can tell the difference. They somehow know whether leaders love them or they are merely using them for personal advantage. Good leaders sincerely love people, pray for people, and believe in them.

The disapproval of others is a real possibility when it comes to deciding to follow Jesus fully. But it can be spiritually dangerous! When faced with opposition don’t deconstruct your faith in order to mitigate the pain. Grow instead.

One of the highest virtues of the Christian life may also induce significant anxiety in our hearts -- simply because we care. It can cause us to sacrifice real self-interest for the purpose of going out of our way to serve others.

Have you ever changed your mind about something you intended to do? Is that a lack of integrity, or could there be more consequential forces at play? Watch the Apostle Paul wrestle with this.