Living with Wisdom: Remembering Our Creator in Every Season
In the tapestry of life, we often find ourselves caught between the threads of youth and old age, success and failure, joy and sorrow. But what if there was a way to weave these seemingly disparate elements into a beautiful, meaningful pattern? The ancient wisdom of Ecclesiastes offers us profound insights into living a life of purpose and joy, regardless of our circumstances.
At the heart of this wisdom lies a simple yet powerful directive: remember your Creator in the days of your youth. This isn’t just a call to religious observance; it’s an invitation to live with an awareness of our place in the grand design of existence. It’s about recognizing that our lives are not our own, but a gift from the Creator to be stewarded wisely.
But what does it mean to remember our Creator? It means living with an open hand and an open heart. It means casting our bread upon the waters, giving generously without the guarantee of return. In a world obsessed with security and predictability, this seems counterintuitive. Yet, it’s precisely this willingness to live boldly and generously that allows us to truly experience the richness of life.
The wisdom literature reminds us that we cannot predict the future or control outcomes. “If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth,” it says. Life has an inherent unpredictability, and our attempts to insulate ourselves from all risk can lead to a paralysis that robs us of joy. Instead, we’re encouraged to sow our seed in the morning and not withhold our hand in the evening, for we do not know which will prosper.
This isn’t a call to recklessness, but to a wise generosity that recognizes our limitations and trusts in something greater than ourselves. It’s about building our lives on a foundation of faith rather than fear, of hope rather than despair.
As we journey through life, we’re called to rejoice in our youth and in our many days. But this rejoicing isn’t a blind hedonism. It’s tempered with the knowledge that for all these things, God will bring us into judgment. This isn’t meant to cast a shadow over our joy, but to give it depth and meaning. It reminds us that our actions have consequences, that we’re part of a moral universe where justice ultimately prevails.
The poetic description of aging in Ecclesiastes serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and vitality. The dimming eyes, the trembling hands, the fading desires – all paint a picture of the inevitable march of time. But far from being a cause for despair, this reality is meant to spur us to live wisely and well in the present.
We’re building a house now in which we’ll live when we’re old. Will it be a palace or a prison? The choices we make today, the habits we form, the relationships we nurture, the priorities we set – all these are laying the foundation for our future selves. This sobering thought should motivate us to live intentionally, to remove vexation from our hearts and cultivate joy in the present.
But how do we do this? The wisdom literature points us back to our Creator. It’s in remembering Him – His character, His commands, and His deeds – that we find the key to living well. This remembrance isn’t just about recalling facts; it’s about orienting our lives around the reality of God’s existence and His involvement in our world.
Remembering our Creator means recognizing His bigness, His power, and His wisdom. It means acknowledging that there are things only He can do and things only He can know. This perspective frees us from the burden of trying to control everything and allows us to rest in His sovereignty.
Remembering our Creator also means heeding His commands. These aren’t arbitrary rules meant to restrict us, but loving guidelines designed to help us flourish. They’re the blueprint for living in harmony with the world as it was meant to be, even in its current broken state.
Finally, remembering our Creator means recalling what He has done. Throughout history, God’s people have been called to remember His mighty acts – the exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the provision in the wilderness. For us today, we’re called to remember the ultimate act of deliverance – the cross of Christ and His resurrection. This remembrance isn’t just about looking back; it’s about living now in the freedom and power that Christ’s work has secured for us.
As we navigate the complexities of life, let’s hold fast to these truths. Let’s live generously, rejoicing in the good gifts of each day while holding them loosely. Let’s build lives of purpose and meaning, remembering that our choices today shape our tomorrows. And above all, let’s keep our eyes fixed on our Creator, the source of all wisdom and joy.
In doing so, we may find that even as our outer selves are wasting away, our inner selves are being renewed day by day. We may discover that life, with all its unpredictability and challenges, is still sweet, and it is indeed pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.