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Ecclesiastes and Jesus Tested in the Wilderness

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Have you ever felt you are not doing enough with a combined with the feeling that everything you have been doing and will be doing is empty?

Ecclesiastes

  • Ecclesiastes 1-11
    • vanity, vanity, everything is vanity
    • everything, from pleasure, to projects, to women, even wisdom. All are vanity
  • Ecclesiastes 12
    • Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Jesus Tested in the Wilderness

  • Jesus was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights
    • bread
    • protection/comfort
    • power/success
  • none successfully tempted him, cause He had to carry out His Father’s will. To die on the cross.
  • we too are to to carry out His will, in other words keep His commandments. Just as Ecclesiastes says, “Fear God and keep His commandments”
  • of coarse, not to literally die on the cross as Jesus has done and done it for all. but don’t you remember the quote, “Deny yourself, pick up the cross and follow me”?
  • now what commandment are you thinking of? two come into mind:
    • the first commandment: “do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”
      • some want to understand why (with logical reasons) on everything the Bible says, but I tell you don’t have to understand them to keep them. If God told you to march around The Walls of Jericho would you do it without understanding why?
    • the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength”
      • John 14:15 - “if you love me, keep my commandments” “he who keeps His commandments, he it is that loveth me”
  • off topic: when Jesus was tempted/tested God the Father was quiet, just as during the temptation of Eve and Adam. However, it is until the end the angels came to attend Him. reminds me of James 1:2-4 - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”