9 All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt. 10 Then I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of holiness, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God. 14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.
Ecclesiastes 8:9-17
Our trust in God should be growing each and every day. Trust means believing even when we don’t understand. Faith means believing in the reality of things we can’t see, touch, feel, or hear. Let us end this lesson with specific reasons we need to grow in trusting God.
**We need to trust God in the midst of the brevity of life. Our lives are short, like a vapor (James 4:4). One man rules for a season and then another takes his place. Trust God and make the best of the life we are given.
**We need to trust God in the midst of life’s injustices. Life will treat us unfairly and unjustly. Some injustices we can fight. Other inequities will overcome us no matter what we do. Trust God in all of it. He will see you through.
**We need to trust God in the midst of the evil that prevails. At times justice will prevail. Yet, at other points, injustice rules in our society. When we see these verses through the prism of earthly knowledge, Solomon tells us that nothing better to do but to eat, drink, and be merry. Trusting God during these times will help us know that God will judge all things and evil-doers will not escape.
**We need to trust God even though we don’t understand God’s plan or His activities here on this earth. God has not promised to explain Himself to us. He never said He would fill us in on all the details. This is why faith is so important.
You can trust God in all things. Those who trust Christ will never be put to shame. Life is not fair and inequities abound in every sphere of life. We can trust God in the midst of it all. He will lead us, guide us, and carry us home safely.
Who are you trusting? In whom have you placed your faith? Believe in Christ. He gave all for you in order that you might have relationship with God. Repent of your sin, trust Christ to forgive you and cleanse you, and call upon His name today and be saved. You can trust Christ in everything!
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 