Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. NIV
Do you find that you are asking this type of question most days? Why are we going thru these days? Why can’t things just go back to normal? Why can’t things just go back to the way they were?
In my study bible this is the explanation of the scripture Ecclesiastes 7:10-
The temptation to glorify the past at the expense of the present must be resisted. The pleasures of advantages of those days may be more imaginary than real.
Pleasure- a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
Advantages-a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.
Imaginary- existing only in the imagination
Real- actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed. Genuine
So, let’s talk about the caption, those days may be more imaginary than real.
Do you wake up every morning and have the same routine, whether it’s going to work or starting your day at home? What do you do first? Possibly you make a cup of coffee or your breakfast of choice, get everyone or just yourself ready and then start your day. You proceed throughout your day, whether at work or at home doing what seems to be the NORM, the routine of your life. After work you will normally have the same routine most days for example; cooking, homework or just enjoying TV or a book with your family or even alone; then you prepare for bed. All of that is REAL but what do you think may be imaginary about any part of your day?
Now go back a little over a month ago & think about what a day was like for you? Did you enjoy PLEASURES in your day and what were those pleasures? Maybe it was the luxury to go to a nice restaurant, go shopping or something as simple as a game of golf? There are many other examples, but only you know what your pleasures are for yourself. Are those things REAL? YES! But can they be imaginary? YES! Now ask yourself the question… are you still enjoying all of those pleasures?
Are most of the things that you considered pleasures still in your routine? Did you find satisfaction and enjoyment from these? Did any of your pleasures make you feel superior? A lot of you will find that you are not doing the same things as you were a little over a month ago. Maybe you had to give up things you would normally do so now you are spending more time reading the Bible. Maybe you cooked you or your family dinner instead of going to a restaurant or getting carry out. These things are considered pleasures, but now we may see them differently. So… are they real, yes… but those things that we were doing can be taken away (as we are now seeing), making them imaginary- existing now only to the imagination. Possibly with this new routine we have changed our perception on what is real pleasures! What we USE TO DO may not be WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW! This does not mean that some of these pleasures will not be given back to us, most of them will. However, it is up to us to use WISDOM, to know what pleasures are worth going back to.
Ecclesiastes 7:25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly
I have come to realize during this time that pleasures and riches lead merely to boredom and despair. Only a relationship with the One who created us and continues to care for us will truly satisfy. Troubles and uncertainty will continue to PLAGUE us, but even during these times we can find joy in a secure trust in God.
Let’s ask ourselves… Do we do our normal routines and pleasures of life without waking up and thanking God and praying that He goes before us throughout our day? Do we go thru the motions of our day and fall asleep on the couch or possibly in the bed watching TV, without one prayer to just Thank God for his provisions & safety throughout the day? Do we thank God for the Pleasures we are all given in life?
If YOU are not spending time in EVERY DAY thanking God, is this the normalcy that YOU want to go back to?
Let me challenge you thru this bible study to ask yourself what is real and what is imaginary about the old days. I believe we are all ready to get back to some type of normal, but what is the normal we should get back to?
A final note:
Luke 9:62, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
In this scripture, Jesus is urging us, the called, to move on with life and its problems by looking and working in the present. In reference to my original scripture Eccl. 7:10- then, the “old days” refers to the time before we were converted, not some earlier time in the history of our culture. This makes this warning more individual and meaningful. God also warns us in 7:10 that it is not wise to hold a strong opinion that former days were better. He wants us to keep our minds on His sovereign power and purpose while accepting His judgment on the circumstances of our times. God wants us also to remember what the REAL pleasures of life truly are.
Thank you
Lenora Vance
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