Advent: Join the TriumphSample

The Scripture:

"Everything has now been heard. And here’s the final thing I want to say. Have respect for God and obey his commandments. This is what he expects of all human beings" (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NIRV).

The Story:

My favorite kinds of restaurants are places that give free samples. If you go to an ice cream shop with me, you better put on your patience hat because I am trying every single sample possible. If you shop with me at Costco, you better be ready for several hours of trying free samples.

I love trying things, but I am nothing compared to the writer of our Scripture today. The author of this verse, his name is Solomon. He was the wisest person to ever live, outside of Jesus, and he became so rich and so mighty he could have whatever he wanted. So guess what he did…he had everything and tried everything. He was rich, he was popular, he was wise, and yet he wasn’t happy.

Ecclesiastes is a book written at the end of Solomon’s life, and he’s reflected on everything he’s done. All the friends he’s gained, all the money he’s had, being king, all of it. And he says it was all meaningless. The reason why is because he was expecting good things to be God.

Friends are awesome, money is a great tool, being wise is awesome, but none of them compare to being friends with God and putting Him first. Solomon tried putting friends first, money first, popularity first, and he says it did not work and it did not lead to a good life. Solomon ends his book by saying, “I have seen everything and the best thing you can do is follow God.”

We were made for God. It is only in friendship with God that can we have the life God has created for us. Only in God can we find joy, hope, peace, and love. The greatest life we could live is following and obeying God. Now the word “obey” may sound like the way brussel sprouts taste to you. We don’t like following the rules sometimes, but what Solomon discovered is God’s Rules aren’t making our lives worse. God’s Rules are the way we have the greatest life on Earth. God’s Rules are good for us and how we can honor God, and follow Him, and find life and life to the fullest.

The Triumph:

We don’t triumph in life when we do our own thing. We triumph by following God. Jesus obeyed God perfectly and showed us that is what we were made for. We weren’t made for stuff and things, we were made for God. Jesus perfectly followed God and obeyed Him. We will never be perfect, but because of Jesus, we are invited into Friendship with God.