Focus

Read Time: 9 Minutes  |  All content in square brackets are my notations .

Our lives consist of many things: family, relationships, professions, interests, convictions. We all have things we must do to take care of this tabernacle (our bodies), our abode and oftentimes others. But where is our focus? We can be consumed with self; always concerned about our bodies health or our surroundings. We can be consumed with our profession letting the job define us and be the sole reason for our life. We can be wholly focused on others; always taking care of others and never taking care of oneself mentally or physically. There is nothing wrong with taking care of your body or being good at your job or taking care of others. But when anything is all consuming our lives become out of balance.

Reading Ecclesiastes helped me get my life back in focus.  I have a tendency to take hold of something and let it overtake my thoughts and actions. For instance, music.  I have loved playing saxophone since the first day I played it in band. It is just fun to play and those who play seem to be adventurous and always willing to accept a gig.  I have never been real good but I have gotten better over time. There was a time where I was so passionate about it that it consumed much of my emotions, thoughts and time. When I realized this I had to go to God and ask Him, "Where does this fit in my life?" We have a fellowship in our home. I have a wonderful husband and at the time three teenagers and a full-time job. He helped me get back in focus and balance the emotions, practicing, and band stuff.

A few words from the Preacher, possibly King Solomon...

Ecclesiastes 1
:1 The words of the Preacher¹, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:
    but the earth abideth for ever.
...
:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full;
    unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it:
    the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
    and that which is done is that which shall be done:
    and there is no new thing under the sun.

All is vanity.  After one accomplishes and stores up and labors and sees and hears  all is vanity, emptiness, transitory. By God's inspiration Solomon makes a great case here as he looks at his life, which is rich and full and blessed abundantly. As I read on I am wondering why is this in the Bible and what is the point in regards to my life? But God always has the point, right?

Ecclesiastes 5
:18  Behold that which I have seen:
    it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink,
    and to enjoy the good of all his labour
    that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life,
    which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 
:19  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth,
    and hath given him power to eat thereof,
    and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour;
    this is the gift of God. 
:20  For he shall not much remember the days of his life;
    because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. 

How was Solomon looking at his life: all is vanity in outward appearance but we know that Solomon did not ask for riches and power from God but wisdom to lead such a great people. God therefore rewarded him with wisdom and riches. Solomon was a prolific writer of God's inspiration. He “spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.” I Kings 4:32,

What was Solomon's focus? It was on God, He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. Let us enjoy and rejoice in God's provision for us. Be humbled and thankful. What has God given you?

With all that God gives us let us keep it in alignment with God's Will. God has much more to say on riches.

I Timothy 6
:17  Charge them that are rich in this world,
    that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches,
    but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 
:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works,
    ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 
:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
    that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

What is the good foundation here? Verse 18, doing good, be rich in good works, ready to distribute/share, and willing to communicate/fellowship. Also in verse 19 "laying up in store" is "to treasure away". The words "may lay hold on " is more emphatic in the Greek then that, it means to "seize!". "Eternal life"  is translated in other versions and the the Aramaic as " true life".

Treasure away that good foundation of doing good, being rich in good works, ready to give and eager to fellowship, against the time to come that you may seize true life.

The result of treasuring away the good actions, being rich in good works, sharing and fellowshipping is seizing upon true life. Live life the way God wants us to, with fullness of joy and satisfied in all aspects of our life.

To help us build this foundation God placed holy spirit within us.

II Corinthians 3
:2  Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 
:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be
    the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
    written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God;
    not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
:4  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 
:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves;
    but our sufficiency is of God; 
:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
    not of the letter, but of the spirit:
    for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
    and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 
:18 But [now] we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
    are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
    even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

We are made able ministers with the spirit of the living God through Christ. Our trust is in God from whom is our sufficiency. God has given us the ability to treasure way those good works as a foundation that we may seize that true life He provides for us. As we continue to look unto the Lord Christ Jesus we become changed into that same image of Christ by the Spirit of the Lord. This is not by our own doing but that of God

But, there is still this flesh and the troubles of the world.

II Corinthians 10
:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, [of the flesh]
    but mighty through God to the pulling down [demolition] of strong holds;) 
: 5 Casting down imaginations,[reasonings]
    and every high thing [barrier by implication] that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
    and bringing into captivity every thought
    to the obedience [hupakoē attentive hearkening with obedience] of Christ; 
:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, [parakoē inattention resulting in disobedience]
    when your obedience [hupakoē attentive hearkening with obedience] is fulfilled. [complete, finished] 

God tells us that even though we walk after our five senses the battle is not solely on that plane but spiritual. We all can find it difficult to harness our thoughts. When we are offended or accused we have a tendency to harbor ill thoughts and can mull over them for some time which can lead to bitterness and hardness of heart. But!! What we have at our disposal are spiritual tools; take our cares and concerns to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is readily available to help us bring into captivity every thought that builds a barrier against spiritual living and bring those thoughts into alignment with God's Word and Words of revelation. He helps us be prepared to retaliate against the inattention or distraction caused by the flesh and bring us back to the wisdom of God through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11
:27 All things are delivered unto me [Jesus Christ] of my Father:
    and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
    neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son,
    and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 
:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
    and I will give you rest. 
:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
    for I am meek and lowly in heart:
    and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

God sent Jesus Christ to redeem us and make known to us the Father, the giver of life, peace, gifts, joy, the holy spirit, and more. In the Old Testament God was not considered a father.  Jesus Christ has shown us God the Father. We now have the Son that we can come to and experience His rest. Being yoked together, joined together, makes the endeavor lighter, easier to do. And if we are looking to the Lord Jesus Christ we will be doing the will of God. Which is better yet. This act of love from the Father is immeasurable.

What is weighing you down? Take it the Lord Jesus Christ and lay it aside. What is contrary to God's Word and Will? Lay it aside and look unto the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Hebrew 12
:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
    let us lay aside every weight,
    and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
   and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 
:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
    who for the joy that was set before him
    endured the cross, despising the shame,
    and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

I wanted to share the Aramaic Peshitta Translation  of these two verses:

Hebrews 12
:1 Because of this also, we, who have all these witnesses that surround us like a cloud, should unfasten all our burdens from us, even the sin that is always prepared for us, and we should run with patience this race that is set for us.
:2 And we should look at Jesus, who was the initiator and finisher of our faith, who for the joy there was for him endured the cross and discounted the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Lay aside, unfasten all our burdens. This is a voluntary act to put off burdens, and weights, that we have allowed to be attached to us. Open the latch and let them fall away. Also, the sin that is prepared for us. Open that latch. What is burdening you? What is tempting you? By our conscious effort we can let all of that fall away and look unto Christ Jesus the initiator and finisher of our faith. He is the one that we are yoked together with enabling us to run the race that is set for us. Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, we cannot have a better savior, brother, and guide.

When all work here is done. All is vanity, so why work? Work in the Lord, for all that we have is from Him that we may have to give and enjoy the fruit of our labors, they are gifts from God.

Our trust is in God not His provision. All is given to us to enjoy and for good works. Be ready to distribute and to fellowship. In that we will seize true life.

Keep our eyes, our focus, upon God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Lead every thought captive to Christ. Keep our attention on His will. We are yoked together with Christ who always does the Father's will. So, lay aside your cares and worries. Who is at your side?

Now you can run the race that is set before you because you have holy spirit and entrance unto God which is above all and in us all by the Lord Jesus Christ that sits at the right hand of God for you.

My passion for music is still a balancing act (I am now getting better at flute and learning piano too so I can sing and play hymns) but Jesus Christ is always there to guide me when I ask, "What should I do next?"

Ecclesiastes 12
:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
    Fear God, and keep his commandments:
    for this is the whole duty of man. 

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1 "Who is the Preacher in Ecclesiastes", Got Questions https://www.gotquestions.org/Preacher-Ecclesiastes.html (2 Sept. 2024)

 

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