“LIVING WELL”
READ: Ecclesiastes 7 (Focus vs. 1–4)
MEMORY VERSE”
“Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2
BACKGROUND
Free funerals for the living. That’s the service offered by an establishment in South Korea. Since it opened in 2012, more than 25,000 people—from teenagers to retirees—have participated in mass “living funeral” services, hoping to improve their lives by considering their deaths.
Officials say “the simulated death ceremonies are meant to give the participant a truthful sense of their lives, inspire gratitude, and aid in forgiveness and reconnection among family and friends.”
These words echo the wisdom given by the teacher who wrote Ecclesiastes. “Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Death reminds us of the brevity of life and that we only have a certain amount of time to live and love well.
It loosens our grip on some of God’s good gifts—such as money, relationships, and pleasure—and frees us to enjoy them in the here and now as we store up “treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).
As we remember that death may come knocking anytime, perhaps it’ll compel us to not postpone that visit with our parents, delay our decision to serve God in a particular way, or compromise our time with our children for our work. With God’s help, we can learn to live wisely.
By: Poh Fang Chia
INSIGHT
Scholars have heavily debated the authorship of Ecclesiastes. The opening verse identifies the author as “the Teacher” (Hebrew Qohelet), but that is a title, not a proper name.
The traditional view has ascribed authorship to Solomon because of statements summarized well in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: “The author also identified himself as a ‘son of David’ (1:1), a ‘king in Jerusalem’ (1:1), and ‘king over Israel in Jerusalem’ (1:12).
Moreover, in the autobiographical section (1:12–2:26) he said he was wiser ‘than anyone who [had] ruled over Jerusalem before’ him (1:16); that he was a builder of great projects (2:4–6);
and that he possessed numerous slaves (2:7), incomparable herds of sheep and cattle (2:7), great wealth (2:8), and a large harem (2:8). In short he claimed to be greater than anyone who lived in Jerusalem before him (2:9).”
These statements seem to provide more than enough evidence to support Solomon as the author of Ecclesiastes.
APPLICATION
What changes will you make in your life today as you think about death? How can you be more conscious about death amid the hustle and bustle of life?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
Living well begins the day we discover our true purpose in life. – pr
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” Friedrich Nietzsche
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“Death reminds us of the brevity of life and that we only have a certain amount of time to live and love well… With God’s help, we can learn to live wisely.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
“Loving God, help me to remember the brevity of life and to live well today.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“IN HIS PRESENCE” Sandi Patty
In your presence there is comfort,
In your presence there is peace,
When we seek to know your heart,
We will find such blessed assurance
In your holy presence, Lord.
In the quiet of this hour
As we kneel before you now
I believe your promise to be faithful
I don’t always understand
What your perfect will demands,
But I learned to trust you more
In your presence, Lord.
There can be such sweet reward
When we wait upon the Lord
As we take the time,
He gives us His perfect wisdom.
To be found in Him alone,
All our deepest secrets known,
we’re surrounded by His grace
When we seek His face.
In Your presence there is comfort,
In Your presence there is peace…
When we seek the Father’s heart,
We will find such blessed assurance
An ever-open door…
To know our Savior more
In the presence of our Lord
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF I KINGS CHAPTERS 1-7
THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES CHAPTERS 10-18