Do you usually notice the negatives most often or the positives? As you
listen to a person talk, you can usually get a glimpse of their perspective
on certain issues within a short amount of time. It doesn't take long
to pick up whether or not that person is content simply by listening to
the things which he considers most often, or reflects on. Such is the
case with Solomon today as we find in reading Ecclesiastes 4:1-3....
"So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under
the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had
no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but
they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already
dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than
both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that
is done under the sun."
Here in this portion of scripture, Solomon has some specific complaints
about society - do you too? What does the Bible say he saw taking place
under the sun? Oppression, and lots of it! Perhaps you see it all around
too. Oppression is still taking place in our society hundreds of years
later, just as it was taking place in his day, amen? It never seems to
go away... Not only did Solomon spend time considering ALL those oppressions,
he even went so far as to spend time considering even the tears of all
those who were oppressed. He watched the effect that those oppressions
had in the lives of people. He saw tears that were a result of many hurts,
disappointments, discouragements, despair etc. To make matters even worse,
Solomon noticed that those who were oppressed were weak, much weaker than
their surrounding powerful oppressors, and even more depressing still,
he observed that they had no comforter.....
Well, that's quite a heavy burden this man is carrying around inside of
himself, isn't it? After considering all these tragedies, what kind of
a mood would you say Solomon had himself in at this point? Not a very
content one, amen? Sounds to me like Solomon had pretty much concluded
that life in itself was both hopeless and meaningless, wouldn't you agree?
He even goes so far as to say that he praised the dead more than the living!
Solomon completes his thoughts on this matter in verse three when he declares
the happiest people to be those who had never been born! Why?? Because
Solomon determined that then they would not have to witness the evil work
that was done under the sun. Now, maybe you can't imagine getting to that
point in your thinking, but you see ladies, when we constantly turn and
return to a negative way of thinking, dwelling only on the dark side of
life, it is possible to get so depressed that you'd wish you had never
been born... You'll even begin to wish you were dead! When we become filled
to the brim with complaints over grievous situations happening to and
around us, a weariness of life begins to set in with us just as it did
with Solomon...
Ecclesiastes 2:17, "Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought
under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit."
Now ladies, if you personally were sitting across the table from this
man or even a friend with a similar perspective on life, what would you
say to them? Even though you might tire of their negative thinking, and
even though you might personally agree with them on certain points, how
could you ever hope to make a dent in their despair? What solution would
you pose to their problem? How do you change the point of view of someone
who literally hates life? What could you possibly bring to them that would
be of help? The answer is found in the very same chapter of Ecclesiastes
in verses 9-10 which say:
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that
is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
We find here that YOU are exactly what this person needs - a friend! Certainly
Jesus is that Supreme Friend that sticks closer than a brother, but let
us not forget that folks need a human friend as well, amen? Of course,
it’s natural for us to want to shun someone who is depressing to be with,
is it not? I can only imagine what it must have been like to hang around
Solomon during this time when he was so heavily focused in on the negative
side of things. I'm sure many people even went out of their way just to
avoid being in his presence and he probably knew it! Have you ever avoided
someone similar to Solomon because you just didn't want to have to deal
with it or hear it? Though oppression might consume your eye, nobody misses
being rejected....
Psalm 31:11, "I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially
among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see
me without fled from me."
Fleeing does not sound like the behavior of a true friend, does it, ladies?
The Bible says two are better than one for a good reason, for when one
person one falls down into the depths of despair in their considerations
of all the evil that is under the sun, the other will be there to help
lift up the thoughts and encourage his fellow comrade. But woe unto the
one who becomes hopelessly depressed and has not a friend who cares, or
who will stick around and prove it, amen?
Psalm 38:11, "My lovers and my friends stood aloof from my sore; and my
kinsmen stand afar off."
Friendship is the art of standing close by with the intent of lifting
up another person, not standing afar off with an indifference to their
sufferings or running the other way when they begin to fall. How skilled
are you in true friendship?? Have you ever been guilty of deserting someone
who really needed you just because you knew it was going to be a tough
job of lifting them up? Who do you seek out most often, those that are
only positive or those that are negative too? Are you getting close enough
to hear the groanings of burdened people, close enough to see and help
dress their sores, or are you too far away to notice their hurts at all?
Is there any value to having YOU for a friend, or are you just a taker?
Ladies, we ought to bring balance to our perspective on friendships by
seeking to come along side others and be a friend, not just having one
for ourselves! No wonder Solomon praised the dead more than the living,
for many of the living don't bother with those that are hurting like they
should - they have no comforters the Bible says! Let's face it, when life
gets tough, and when you don't have a friend, life can seem pretty meaningless,
amen? Sadly enough, many people have decided that it is better to be dead
than alive as suicide becomes a natural choice.... Yes, there is someone
out there whose view of life you can change before it's too late! There
is someone out there who needs YOU for a friend. Will you notice that
one? Maybe they aren't too far off.... Who among your acquaintances needs
your friendship today, dear lady? What steps could you make in their direction?
Let's follow Christ's example of friendship and give those without hope
reason to praise life and the living....
John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
