How does Ecclesiastes 8:10 encourage us to live with eternal perspective? Setting the Scene in Ecclesiastes 8:10 “Then too, I saw the wicked buried; they used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.” (Ecclesiastes 8:10) What the Verse Shows Us About Life “Under the Sun” • The wicked can appear religious—regularly “in and out of the holy place.” • Public opinion applauds them: “they were praised in the city.” • Their story still ends at a graveside; the applause cannot follow them. • Solomon labels the entire scene “futile,” exposing how short-lived earthly honor really is. Why an Eternal Lens Matters • Death is the great leveler—every life meets the same appointment: “Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) • God—not the crowd—delivers the final verdict: “For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14) • Earth’s applause evaporates; heaven’s reward endures: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18) Living Today With Tomorrow in Mind • Pursue genuine worship, not mere appearance—be the same person in private that you are in the “holy place.” • Measure success by faithfulness, not popularity; God weighs the heart (Proverbs 21:2). • Invest in eternal treasure: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) • Serve quietly and sacrificially, content with God’s praise (Matthew 6:3-4). • Keep short accounts with sin; repentance now is better than regret at judgment (1 John 1:9). • Share the gospel—the only message that follows people past the grave (Romans 1:16). Scriptures That Echo the Same Call • Psalm 73:17-20—earthly prosperity of the wicked is a momentary illusion. • Luke 16:19-31—rich man and Lazarus illustrate the great reversal after death. • 1 Peter 1:24-25—“All flesh is like grass… but the word of the Lord stands forever.” • 2 Timothy 4:8—the “crown of righteousness” awaits those who love Christ’s appearing. Takeaway Ecclesiastes 8:10 lifts our eyes beyond the cemetery and the cheers of the crowd to the only approval that lasts. Let today’s decisions be shaped by the day we meet the Lord. |
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