Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 – As long as people have authority over others, injustice will be rampant. Political and financial influences govern our society, and these structures reveal how people often take advantage of others.
Listen
- Wickedness is present even where we should see the right thing done in the right way (3:16).
- A judgment day is coming for all people according to God’s standard (3:17).
- Sinful pursuits cause us to act like animals, addressing cravings without thought to who they hurt (3:18).
- Creatures will exhibit power struggles until the day they run out of it (3:19-20).
- The world’s power can acquire its treasures but nothing beyond it (3:21-22).
- The more power someone has, the easier it is to take advantage of others (4:1).
- Our world is so overrun with injustice that it is sometimes difficult to behold (4:2-3).
Consider
- God grants each of us some degree of power to reflect Him but not replace Him.
- With unchecked authority, each of us becomes the thing we campaigned against.
- Don’t disregard sympathizing with another’s experiences of injustice.
- Stop telling people their feet shouldn’t hurt if you haven’t walked a mile in their shoes.
- Our attempt to gain authority left us powerless, but the gospel provides hope for life after death.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
You must be logged in to post a comment.