The Wicket Gate

Good Day! As I write this it is August 2024 in Texas and we are finally having our first true heat wave. I have good reason to take it easy in my office and write for a while, lol. This is our fourth installment in “Don’t Wast your Breath” book by Brian Borgman. 

Chapter five covers Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16, Borgman reveals several challenges and in between challenges the blessing of companionship. Challenges include Injustice, Oppression, Envy, Loneliness, and Politics. This chapter is aptly named “Gathering Storm Clouds.”  I am reminded of the hymn “Standing on the Promises” written by Russell Kelso Carter in 1886, specifically the second verse. 

Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

These challenges to life are a part God’s sanctifying by the Spirit, “distressed by various trials,” our faith is refined to a state more precious than gold (which can be destroyed) (1 Peter 1:7). Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:8

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair.

These challenges in Ecclesiastes are suffered by each Christian differently. God’s sanctifying work by the Spirit may not lead us to every challenge, but each of us will face some of the challenges. James is clear by the Spirit

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Patient endurance and godliness with contentment (1 Tim. 6:6) is the sovereign aim of allowing these storm clouds to arise. Further discussion of God allowing these storm clouds to form in our lives must wait for a later post. I will be taking a look at two of the challenges, because this is a blog post, not an essay. 

The second challenge is Oppression. There are Christians being tortured and murdered somewhere in the world today. We in the United States, especially in the rural south, do not face this oppression. Borgman includes an excellent quote from Tim Keller regarding our relative safety today compared to the history of the church. My early church class which covers the first 600 years of Christianity required us to read excerpts from Eusebius’ writings. While the courage of Christians in the face of terror is inspiring, it is terrifying to read about the mutilation and murder of men, women, and children. I just finished reading Defenders of the West by Raymond Ibrahim, which I encourage you to listen to on Audible(Excellent narration by John McLain). Defenders of the West is a window into history for the modern Christian, exposing the terror of death, rape, and destruction for much of  the middle centuries. I concur with Tim Keller, very little of Christian history could be characterized as peaceful.

My encouragement is that if you have not read or listened to the history of Christianity to do so. Minimize the dark areas of history in your mental file cabinet by listening to well written books. The honest truth is that most only have the last hundred years or so in their mental archive, dive deeper! Christianity is 2000 years old; Christians have been oppressed and Christians have oppressed other Christians, there are many lessons to be learned and applied from both situations. Christian freedom is a blessing from God to be enjoyed by building up the church, freely meeting together to worship and fellowship and openly expressing our faith. I encourage you to not fall victim to freedom but use it to the glory of God and spreading of His gospel in our local community and around the world(Matt. 28:19). Pray daily that freedom and tolerance will make its way into societies so that Christians can live unmolested. 

Catapulting off oppression, the challenge of envy is not a new storm cloud. “Labor is a gift, but it becomes an idol if it is fueled by envy. The man Qoheleth has in view is skilled and works hard, but he works hard just to get on top. He is simply driven to be better and have more than his neighbor” (76). Man works hard but where is his heart? Is he working for the Lord? “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Col. 3:23). Another song that comes to mind, “Do all in the name of the Lord” by Austin Taylor, specifically the second and third verses. 

Be not deceived by world greed, Do all in the name of the Lord; The Spirit says, “in word or deed,” Do all in the name of the Lord. 

If you are toiling for a crown, do all in the name of the Lord; O do not trust in world renown, do all in the name of the Lord.

Modern envy can take many forms, in this section the Teacher is referencing  the man who is trying to reach the top in labor or power for pride’s sake and the man who sees what others have and desires to have more out of envy. John is clear by the Spirit, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 Jn. 2:16). These are the storm clouds of envy. The Teacher is clear that this disordered drive for success is fleeting wind/breath, a storm cloud that darkens the light of joy in God. Christians will never be happy chasing after others success. The object of inordinate desire is not necessarily material, it could be time, talents, treasure, or anything else under the sun. 

I wish I could write like him… I wish my house looked clean all the time like hers…I wish I could take time of from work like him…I wish I could live in a city with an HEB like they do…I wish I could play pickleball as well as he does…I wish I could sing as well as he does.

Just writing those out makes me scream Enough! Living under the storm cloud of envy is a tempest of joyless anxiety. Joy is never found looking over the fence. Joy is found in godliness with contentment, Christians are taken care of by God, we have what we need. Christians are blessed with time, talents, and treasure particular to each of us that we should use to God’s glory. Godly use of the provisions by living within our means is a must, because spending driven by envy destroy the financial stability God intends through the seasons of plenty and scarcity . My suggestion after thirty-seven years of life, don’t compare yourself to anyone else your age or otherwise in any category, this will only bring woe. 

 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. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:12-13

Borgman does an excellent job of relating this envy driven toil to joyless fear and exhaustion through his experience at Seminary. “My wife asked many times if I could take a Saturday off from studying and taker and our daughter to the park for a picnic, but I was far too determined to ace the next exam. My commitment to hebel and striving after the wind made our marriage a miserable one.” (77) I can absolutely relate to Borgman on this issue, time off is not an easy thing for a chicken farmer. As my previous posts have stated, I don’t get many days off, the animals do depend on you to fix broken motors and thaw pipes. My biggest issue throughout this period was not envy of others’ success, it was envying that others could take time off, others could go out of town. It ate me up every time I heard other people’s plans. Honestly, I am needed at work, God has blessed me with the ability to take care of his creatures in cooperation with my employees. It brings me joy. But to never take days off, or to never leave town for more than a night was disordered toil whose victim was my wife, children, and personal health. Just like Borgman I realized what I was missing and adjusted my ways. I give glory to God by His Spirit for changing my heart in this regard. 

Working for any motivation other than the glory of God never brings satisfaction. Borgman states “Do not be consumed with envy and rivalry and work your life away because you want to be richer and better than your neighbor…balance your toil with rest” (76). God has not given us home and church families just to play “extras” in our sitcom titled “My Envious Life.” They are the main characters of our love, affection and care. God gives days off, maybe not in every season of our lives, but he has designed us from the beginning to need time for worship, work, rest, and family. The goal is rightly ordered affections, and that takes the Spirit sanctifying our hearts on God’s time. Enjoy godly contentment, enjoy your side of the fence! Glorify God by enjoying him forever. 

Note: I would be remiss if I didn’t write about the problem of social media. What used to be intermittent talk at the water cooler, morning coffee meeting, and mothers at the fence talk is now available 24/7 through the mechanisms of Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest etc. These apps bombard our contentment with experiences and possessions that God has not given to us. We can be happy for others, but the temptation is always there think “Why can’t I have this?” or “Why is this not my life?” In my last post at the bottom I mentioned a quote from Jocko, it applies here as well, if social media leads you to envy or discontent in any measure, delete it. While these apps can be funny and informative, if they drag you down when you use them, they are not worth it. Cut off the arm (Matthew 5:30). Don’t let the storm cloud of envy rob you, enjoy God through what he has given you, in your family, labors, and faith.