13th January 2024

13th January 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 2v9-11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


What is it to be great? Solomon once offered a fairly modern answer to this question. As far as Israel's kings go, Solomon was one of the most successful on record. In later years Israel would be divided into two and both the northern and southern kingdoms would be destroyed. In 586BC Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem destroying the temple that Solomon had built and by the time of Christ's day, Israel was far from her previous glory.


Even so, all of these events would come long after Solomon and as far as he was concerned, his reign was a success and he surpassed all who came before him (v9). He was certain that at no point did he lose his famous wisdom (v9b) and as reward for his work, he gave himself all that his eyes could see and all that his heart desired (v10).


That all sounds like a happy, successful and great kind of life doesn't it? Nevertheless, as Solomon considered all of these "rewards" he came back to his original conclusion that "all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." (v11).


Years after Solomon's "great" life came to an end, Jesus spoke about greatness. The Lord taught that He had not come to abolish the Law and Prophets but to fulfil them (Matthew 5v17). Christ was actively and passively obedient to all of God's commands and those who follow Jesus must also take obedience seriously.


Let me be clear, we are not saved by good works or our level of obedience. Christ's work was enough and remains enough. When we receive Jesus by faith His righteousness is credited (imputed) to our account and that is where we must rest. However, the Christian fears God and seeks to honour Him throughout life. Obedience is the child of God's response to the Lord's extraordinary grace.


Jesus said whoever keeps God's commandments "and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5v19). That's certainly a different definition of greatness isn't it? It has nothing to do with earthly success but all to do with our fear of the Lord. 


You're probably not considered great in the eyes of the world, no one outside your community knows your name and your YouTube channel has only three subscribers with one of those being your mum. Don't fret. Paul's words remain true "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1v26-27) Thanks be to God.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is  comprehended in the ten commandments.
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