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We thank the Lord for guiding us through 2007. In particular, I am grateful to the Lord for the New Year Eve Service. Many turned up to worship the Lord together as a church on the last day of the year. I preached on the text Ecclesiastes 1: 1-11. The writer, King Solomon was the wisest of men. It is believed that he penned this book in the twilight of his years. Enriched with all of life’s experiences, Solomon’s writings hold countless lessons for us. His royal position gave him every advantage of observation. He gave his heart to search out wisdom. His research extended to all the works done under the sun. Alas, at the end of it all, he concluded: “Vanity of vanities, vanitiy of vanities, all is vanity, all is vanity” (v.2). Charles Bridges comments, “It is not only vain, but vanity itself … unmixed vanity in its highest degree … utterly inefficient for man’s true happiness. It only enlarges his desires in the endeavour to gratify them. But it leaves behind ‘an aching void’ …that it cannot fill up.” Learn therefore, he continues, “Earthly things look grand, till the trial has proved their vanity; heavenly things look mean, till the trial has developed their glory.” I concluded the message with these words, “Never leave God behind. Make sure His is in your heart today!” Remember , “Only one life, t’will soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
As your pastor, I was deeply moved to hear all your testimonies of God’s gracious dealings throughout the past year, 2007. Each of you had a word to encourage my heart and, I am sure, the heart of everyone present that night. Thank God for touching each soul to share of His wonderful work of grace upon our lives. All glory be to God!
Beloved brethren, we are still in the early days of 2008. Spread across our earthly sojourn are the remaining days of the New Year. What will we write upon its pages? Come tomorrow, what will we face? There may be events that will deeply concern and affect us. What personal struggles and pressures may await, we do not know. Every year has brought its fair share of trials. Sickness may come upon us, difficulties beset our circumstances, trials and temptations exercise our minds, and many dark, gloomy clouds make our path one of heaviness and sorrow. Can we rise above them all? How will we cope with such prospects? How will the Lord lead and strengthen us in our time of need? Most important of all, how will we manage our spiritual life in the midst of it all?
Perhaps we should direct ourselves to God’s Word and let it speak to our hearts – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6: 33). The word “seek” implies being absorbed in the search for, a persevering and strenuous effort to obtain. Note also the word, “first.” The secret to a truly fulfilled and happy life is to set our heart on loving the Lord and putting Him first in our lives. We will not be able to do so if our minds are preoccupied with the cares of this world. It saddens the Lord when we do not trust Him to meet our physical needs; when we doubt His power and love.
Let us look at the context of this familiar passage. Jesus was warning His disciples against disquieting, distrustful care. He gave examples of the animal and plant kingdom. No one has ever heard of an earthly father taking care of the birds and neglecting his own children. The lilies of the field “sow not, neither do they reap” Yet Solomon in all his splendour could not compare with their glorious beauty. “There is a saying among the rabbi almost similar to this – ‘Hast thou ever seen a beast or a fowl that had a workshop? yet they are fed without labour and without anxiety. They were created for the service of man, and man was created that he might serve his Creator. Man also would have been supported without labour and anxiety, had he not corrupted his ways. Hast thou ever seen a lion carrying burdens, a stag gathering summer fruits, a fox selling merchandise, or a wolf selling oil, that they might thus gain their support? And yet they are fed without care or labour’” – Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible.
As God’s children, our responsibility is to seek first His kingdom and “all these things (the rewards of seeking Him) shall be added unto you.” While Christians are directing their attention to God’s kingdom and His righteousness, their Heavenly Father sees to it that their most basic needs for food, drink and raiment are met. Thus, we are exhorted in vs. 34 to “take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” We can trust these precious words from the Great Shepherd of His sheep. Take life one day at a time. Why should we worry about tomorrow when it is in the hands of our loving Heavenly Father?
As we start the year, let us direct our time and energies to love the Lord and to do His will. Resolve to spend time with Him in secret so that we can grow in His grace and knowledge. Determine to set a godly example before the brethren and to be a good testimony before the watching world. May the Lord bless you with a meaningful and fruitful New Year - 2008!
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