EVIL UNDER THE SUN - "Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, 'For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?' This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16).

Chapter 4 of Ecclesiastes is a prime example of Solomon's various thoughts as it relates to one central, overriding theme. In this instance, Solomon focuses on the evils of life we experience this side of heaven; tragic events that weigh on our psyche and drive our minds into hopelessness and despair.

What is most intriguing from Solomon's perspective is the advantage those who have already died have over those who are currently living, as well as the unborn who have yet to taste the bitterness of human existence. In other words, Solomon's final determination is that the world in which we live is so cruel and bathed in suffering that life is not worth living.

Pain is inevitable, oppression exists, truth is relative, jealousy and envy consume our thoughts, and evil runs rampant through the heart of man. Therefore, what hope do we have to compel us to remain steadfast in the face of trial and persecution?

Truthfully, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Corinthians 15:19). But as followers of Christ, we believe heaven exists and our eternal resting place is secure because we have placed our faith in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and that alone is reason enough to endure all the evil under the sun Satan throws our way.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13).

The temptation we must guard ourselves against is to react sinfully toward all that is going on around us. We cannot clench our fists in unrighteous anger toward one another. Rather, we must open our hearts to the realization that those who claim to be truly "living" apart from Christ are already dead to begin with, shackled by their pride, self-righteous attitudes, and false sense of security.

Therefore, we must adhere to Scripture's teaching which declares, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18). Our response in the face of evil is love, just as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, exemplified by His example on the cross and taught us to emulate.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

No doubt, foolishness is rampant in our culture today, which makes it difficult to convey a message of eternal urgency to those who (as Solomon characterizes) would rather fold their hands and eat their own flesh. But we must be diligent that the Gospel is presented and more importantly lived out by our righteous living, in order that souls may be won for Christ.

"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light" (Luke 11:33-36).

Our eye metaphorically describes the attitude and perspective through which we look at life all around us. Therefore, we must ask ourselves: Are we pessimistic or optimistic? Realists or dreamers? Hopeless or hopeful? For in all sincerity, how we view life will determine whether we react or respond to it.

The reality is that the generation in which we live predominately does not share our faith and hope in Christ. They would rather mock us for our beliefs and demand signs and wonders to appease their foolish thinking. That is why "when the crowds were increasing, he (Jesus) began to say, 'This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here'" (Luke 11:29-31).

How ironic that Jesus would reference Solomon in order to convey the absolute truth that He alone satisfies man's desire for salvation. In the face of rampant evil, He alone provides the only escape route from bondage and oppression. And He will judge the living and the dead according to His Word, regardless of whether mankind repents or not.

What is interesting to note within Solomon's theme of "evil under the sun" is the emphasis he places on the role and importance of relationships and community, for pity the man who falls and has no one to lend a hand to help him up. The intimacy of personal relationships is paramount to our survival on earth. From the beginning of creation, God saw that being alone was not sufficient for man. 

"Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:18, 21-22).

Therefore, why would we assume remaining independent and isolated from our faith community is wise? Yes, with community comes times of trial and conflict, but God works through our personal relationships to sanctify our character and countenance.

We see life from God's perspective when we exist in community. For instance, we recognize the challenges God has in disciplining us when we struggle to train our children unto righteousness. Moreover, we learn what it means to self-sacrifice through the gift of marriage, just as Christ sacrificed Himself for His bride (the church) that we might live for righteousness.

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17), therefore we are designed to both hold our neighbor accountable and be held accountable to him as well, especially in our community of faith.

Indeed, a threefold cord with God as the central thread binding two followers of Christ together is not easily broken. But if we live apart from community, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought like an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice, we live blind to our own blindness. Our judgment is impaired because of our pride and we no longer see danger from afar, but exist in communion with all the evil under the sun Satan throws our way.

What we need is revival. We need fresh perspective. We need salvation that not only secures our eternal resting place, but compels us to love our neighbor and endure suffering for the advancement of the Gospel. For no matter what oppression we experience this side of heaven, the Lord declares, "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish" (Jeremiah 31:25).

Our souls are satisfied because the Lord has not merely met our needs, but overflowed the longings of our hearts which yearn for intimacy with our Creator. Therefore, we can sing His praises because He is faithful, He is sovereign, and He is worthy to be praised!

Aaron Keyes best captures the beauty of this promise in a song he wrote inspired by God's Word which declares, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:5-7). May we never forget the redemption that is ours in Christ as we live in the world, but not of the world.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).