The Be Theologian

Ecclesiastes: BE Satisfied by Warren W. Wiersbe

When I first saw this week’s Five-Minute Friday word, I was not motivated to write. But a few minutes later I remembered that one of the commentary series I often use was written by Warren W. Wiersbe. He had the ability to summarize each book of the Old and New Testament with a “Be” phrase. So, for example, his commentary on the book of Philippians is “Be Joyful.” His commentary on Ephesians is “Be Rich.” (Lest you think Warren Wiersbe was a prosperity gospel preacher, “Be Rich” does not support the prosperity gospel thinking.)

Be Satisfied

I have been studying and teaching a series of lessons on the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. One of the books I have found helpful is Wiersbe’s “Be Satisfied” commentary. Solomon tried all of the things the world has to offer, and found pleasure, wealth, work, and every other endeavor “under the sun” lacking. He called it vapor or “chasing the wind.” But he helps his reader see that life is to be enjoyed in the right context and that it can and is satisfying under heaven.

Satisfaction Comes from Contentment

“The Puritan Preacher, Jeremiah Burroughs suggested that we learn to find contentment by way of subtraction rather than addition. People normally think that to achieve contentment you have to attain whatever you desire. Our possessions need to be raised up to the level of our desires: ‘But the Christian has another way to contentment. He can bring his desires down to his possessions.’” 1

“G.K. Chesterton is reported to have said exactly the same thing: ‘There are two ways to get enough. One is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.’” 1

Some excellent resources to help study the book of Ecclesiastes.

How to Identify a Follower of Jesus

Here is how Solomon ended his book about how we really find satisfaction: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

But you need to read the New Testament as well to understand what it means to “fear God.” A good place to start is the Gospel of John, or Paul’s epistle to the Romans.

Five Minute Friday

This post is part of the weekly Five-Minute Friday link-up.

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.

1.  David Gibson, Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2017), 74.