ECCLESIASTES 7.13-15

13. Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?

14. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

15. In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

The theme continues again as Solomon points out the fact that even great wisdom cannot bring about perfection or straighten out the crookedness that God allows in this world.

As already mentioned, God is, for a reason and a season, allowing this world to be a crooked and evil place, as even the ecology of nature illustrates – and even to allow the vast majority of mankind to remain spiritually blind and so ignore the good news of eternal salvation and the coming kingdom of God that Jesus preached (2 Corinthians 4:4). However, the committed Christian also has to live in that same world and accept the same reality.

Therefore, Consider what God has done, says Solomon, be philosophical about the state of the world, and learn to expect some ups and downs and reversals, some good times and some bad – no matter how wise and patient you may be. Count your blessings as they come, but learn to cope with adversity also.

If everything we planned worked out like clockwork, then perhaps we could predict the future, but it does not. The reality is that, no matter how great our wisdom, the best laid plans can go awry and unexpected things happen – with the righteous man perishing and the wicked man living long and prospering.

The apostle Paul, who may have these verses in mind when he tells Christians at Philippi, Quote: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Although Christians are called to do good and help others (Titus 3:8), they cannot hope to straighten out this crooked world, nor is it their responsibility to do so – which is why Paul advises them to live quietly and mind their own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), but to do good as the appropriate opportunity arises (Galatians 6:10).

Solomon speaks here of good times and bad times, joy and sadness, success and failure, and the importance of responding to them both in a positive manner – and yet again James seems to echo Ecclesiastes when he counsels those who would live Godly lives, Quote: “If any one of you is in trouble, he should pray. If anyone is happy, let him sing songs of praise” (James 5:13).