Solomon assures us that he has had it all, been there and
done that. He tried pleasure to see if
it was worthwhile, he had money, built palaces and did more than any man could
ever hope to do in their lives and in the end found that everything under the
sun failed to satisfy him. Nothing under
the sun can claim a sense of ultimacy or satisfaction of the human soul or
appetites, there is no end to striving and seeking, one pleasure begets lust
for another and for more. Indeed, no one
had more of anything than Solomon, more wealth, more stuff, more wives and
concubines. His life is testimony to the
truth he writes here that nothing under the sun satisfies, so we should seek
satisfaction of our desires somewhere else.
As Augustine would later write, "You have made us for yourself, O
Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."
Jesus says that if you are seeking pleasure, treasure and
satisfaction, seek the kingdom of God.
He makes clear that nothing on earth can compare to that kingdom and
that we should be willing to rid ourselves of everything else in order to
obtain it, everything else we seek is simply hindrance to possessing the
kingdom. The rich young man who comes
asking what he must do to inherit the kingdom of God is acting out these
parables, he hasn’t yet come to the realization that all his earthly
inheritance stands in the way of an eternal inheritance. The good news is that Jesus shows us that
nothing would hinder God from making a way for us to inherit that kingdom. Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf shows us how
much He wants us to inherit the kingdom, that should change our attitudes about
everything else and allow us to see the kingdom as He reveals it to be in these
parables. Is that your attitude towards
the kingdom?
Paul is clear that the Gospel is grace not works. Others have come to Galatia and preached
another Gospel, a Gospel that is other than grace. We must always guard against such teaching,
Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves and He did it not because
we have done anything to deserve His sacrifice but simply because of
grace. Paul argues that if that other
way worked, the way of pursuing the kingdom by righteous living according to
the law, he would have gotten there but instead it caused him to miss true
righteousness when Jesus revealed it. They
will never find rest if they seek a do-it-yourself salvation. If we want to inherit the kingdom of God we
have to receive it by grace. That,
however, does not mean that we can now take it for granted and simply wait out
death. We, like Adam and Eve, have a
purpose, a mission, to expand the kingdom’s reach and to reveal its contours in
our lives and in our life together with others.
If we want others to enter we have to show them the kingdom is that
pearl of great price, radically different from the kingdoms of this world.
Where the Paschal
blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.
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