Roger's Postings

Saturday, July 30, 2016


Ecclesiastes 2:18-23.                        Chasing the wind - without God                 31/7/16



(Eccl 1:1)  The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: {2} "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."

{12} I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. {13} I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! {14} I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

(Eccl 2:18-23)  I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. {19} And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. {20} So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labour under the sun. {21} For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. {22} What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labours under the sun? {23} All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.



Here in this reading we have a great spot of wisdom for us to ponder over this morning. In fact, I would suggest that you go home and read the whole book of Ecclesiastes. It is wisdom that is very relevant to life in our world today; even though it was written way back in Old Testament times.



It is interesting to note that the wisdom spoken of here flies in the face of a good deal of thinking that is promoted today. Yet history has proved it right time and time again. But still many refuse to listen and learn: They would prefer to think that they know better; they are cleverer than that, because we are now living in a new and modern age.



Yet on the other hand this philosophy that we are encouraged to follow in our world today, is no different than that which has also been tried hundreds and thousands of years ago, and has continually been found wanting. Here it is referred to as it really is, useless - it is chasing the wind.



Chasing the wind - an interesting concept isn't it. Have you ever chased and caught the wind? Do you really know what it is that you are chasing, if you are chasing the wind, and do you really think that you can catch hold of it?



Yet like the writer here, how often don't we get caught up in this thinking, and feel like this in life. Chasing after something that we are told is so good and important; but can't quite get a handle on it. We are assured that it is what will really ‘make’ life for us; and that when you have ‘made it’ then everything will be well. These would be things like, wealth, happiness, security or even a truly upright and alive Christian life.



No matter how good and how hard we might try; no matter how much we have; even if we get to the top of the ladder, will still will feel and know that we really haven’t still achieved anything much at all. There is still left that thinking that there is still something more. And as this reading says; in the end you die and have to leave everything you have worked for to someone else, and who knows what they will do with it. It all still seems a bit useless in the end - a chasing the wind.



When the focus and centre is on any of these things, in the end they will leave us wanting and empty. The great dream the we are chasing will in the end be a nightmare if it becomes the be all and end all of our desires. No matter what we put our mind to do with regard to what we think is important in worldly terms we will always come up short and we will be let down badly.



Now I would venture to say that there are many, many people today who feel this way about life: struggling to find any real point to it - wondering what it is all about; and coming to the conclusion that it is all a bit futile. The high suicide rate and the alcohol and drug abuse in our country is a very good indication that things are not right; but there are many other indicators as well. Yet we don’t want to face the real issue. We don’t want to get to the heart of the matter.



But to help us understand a little better what is happening here, let us narrow our thinking down a little, to just one aspect of life. The book of Ecclesiastes looks at all the main areas where humanity looks to find life and fulfilment. But in this reading we have the focus put on working for, earning and accumulating wealth.



This is a good aspect to centre our attention on because for many people today this is what life is all about – this seems to be their ultimate philosophy for life. So they spend all their time working, thinking, worrying and hassling over earning a dollar and accumulating assets and wealth. This is what they are told to and encouraged to do over and over and over again; and so this aspect then is just about all there is to life for so many people today.

So what do we find? We go to school and send our children to school so that they can get a good education, so that they can get a good job; so that they can earn lots of money; so that they can have a luxurious home, a couple of cars, a boat and many other assets. All the while, so that they can build up their security and have a nice large retirement nest-egg, so that they can live to their hearts pleasure. And they are doing this because they are told that this is what life is all about.

Now here this morning we are told that all this is a chasing after the wind. If that is all there is to life, it is useless – it is a complete waste of time. That is the wisdom of the writer of Ecclesiastes. It is the wisdom of the Scriptures. It is the wisdom of God Almighty himself. And it is the understanding of any truly wise person today.



Why? Well listen to what we are told here in this reading. We work and worry to earn and accumulate; and for most of us, that is what we do throughout most of our life. And for many that involves heartache, and even sleepless nights; it involves struggle and loss of a job, or being taken down by a fraudster. And so at the end of it all we still have very little, and in the end we die broken people. Even if we manage to get through unscathed; and having built our bigger barns and are finally in a position where we are comfortable - we die, and leave all that we have worked for, to someone else. And the successor to it all may be wise in their use of it, but most will not: they have not worked for it and so quickly squander it. So what do we find? We have worked all our life – worried, hassled and struggled, only to leave it all to someone else. It is useless – it is a chasing the wind.



The book of Ecclesiastes also looks at just about every other situation in life, and draws the same conclusion – it is all chasing the wind. When we only look at our efforts, aspirations and achievements in every aspect of life; even the religious; it is useless – it is a chasing the wind. Even our achievements –great as they might be - are really nothing in the big scheme of things. And what do we have left - on our own, nothing.



Now having come to that conclusion, we are left with only one other option. That is, that it is God and God alone who makes anything and everything worthwhile. It is he who changes the whole perspective on life; and it is he who gives true wisdom, knowledge and happiness.



And when we look to the Lord we find the wisdom that truly helps make sense of life and put everything in its right perspective. Living in his wisdom then our work, leisure, religion and everything else has its place and its meaning and purpose. With that, suddenly, there is a peace, security and understanding to life that is beyond comprehension; because God is in control, not me - not others, not the merry-go-round of life, out of control.



Also with God in the centre of everything we find knowledge that is truly worthwhile and helpful. Knowledge that puts all human education in its proper perspective and helps us to use it in a way that is good, useful and helpful. Because it is God's knowledge, it is to be used in the way he wants, and that in turn brings real happiness - lasting happiness. And again it is only to be had when we look to the Lord and trust in him and what he has done for us.



Then we will have the joy of knowing that it is all under control, and that it all will work out for best in the midst of and despite our human weakness, failures and tragedies. Our Lord alone turns life around and gives it meaning and purpose. It is in him, and him alone, that everything else finds its place and is worthwhile and good. Everything else is useless - it is a chasing the wind.



We can be sure of this because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. This God who gives us this wisdom came amongst us and then died so that we might be forgiven and accepted into God’s family for all time. He rose again from the dead so that we can be sure that in connection with him we to can have life in heaven for all eternity. So we can look to him and trust him. He not only is the all- important one in life, but he can be for each one of us as we go through life every day. In him we can find all the meaning, purpose, hope and fulfillment that we need and that truly lasts. He is where it is at.



That is the wisdom that we need to hear and heed today. And that more than anything else is what our country needs at this time also. So instead of looking to ourselves and our human philosophy and thinking, and what we can achieve, are doing and might be able to do, here again we are encouraged to look to our Lord: to look to him as the centre of life; and there only will we find meaning, fulfilment and security. So trust him - trust God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.                  AMEN.



Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish


Saturday, July 23, 2016


Colossians 2:6-15.                             Living as Christians in the face a false world!           24/7/16



6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 

10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 

14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.



‘We are living in interesting times’, is an understatement indeed. As we look around us these days there are so many things happening and being said that are quite disturbing indeed. We firstly think of the increasing incidence of terrorism: Political debate where lies are openly said and accepted; Where media and the Law promote a politically correct view, and openly and viciously condemn people who put a different view; Where the Muslim faith is shielded, while Christianity is roundly condemned: Where my wants are expected to be fulfilled even when I am not prepared to contribute: and the list could go on.



But what is even more interesting is the response that so many take in the face of this. So many seem to tolerate things that are quite clearly wrong and viciously defend them. While others seem to go along with whatever, because it is the current popular view. It seems that most people are modifying what that are saying and doing in order to fit in with the current world view.



Even in the church and our own lives this is far more prevalent than we would care to admit. Our views on many things have changed in recent times. Even where Scripture is quite clear we have changed our thinking so that we are not so out of sync with the culture around us.



In many ways it seems that more and more we are being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. More and more it seems we are prepared to listen to hollow thinking, simply because it sounds pleasing to the ear and is sprouted regularly in the media.



It was interesting to read a rare article in the media that was being critical of the popularist thinking; that we must not speak out against the Muslims and their faith, but at the same time condemn the Catholic and the Christian faith because of the few priests who have brought disrepute on Christianity. They use one rule for one situation and do the opposite in another. They speak at great lengths about tolerance, but are absolutely intolerant toward anyone who does not go along with their views. They do not argue the issue but ridicule and condemn the person.



The humanist, views are many and varied, but are all in the end hollow and deceptive philosophy. They are human views of what we would like to think is good, but we fail to acknowledge that we have a major flaw in our thinking. No matter how good the idea, our sinful, selfish thinking always mucks it up. When the idea comes from humanity and is focussed on ourselves, it will in the end fail.



This we can see as life goes on week after week, month after month, our worldly thinking is unravelling disastrously. Things are going from bad to worse rapidly. So we need to think carefully as to what we are listening to and taking on board in our lives.



Here in this reading we are warned again to see to it that we are not led away from the truth of God’s Word. We surely can see now that as we give way a little here and there, before we know it we have lost the plot altogether. The lie that we can change and ignore God’s Word a little here and there leads to disaster.  We need to heed Paul’s words here in this reading.



 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

Again the reminder is to be completely centred in Jesus Christ and what he has told us in his Word. He is to continue to be our LORD – our Master – our Boss – the One who is all important in our lives. Our roots need to be firmly set deep in him and his Word. Our lives are to be built around him, not the world around us: Not ourselves and our thoughts wants and desires.



In these darkening days we need to be very much strengthened in the faith as you were taught. We must go back to the basics and strengthen our understanding of them. Regular worship and study of God’s Word is paramount for us as we increasing come under all kinds of pressures from within and without. Gone are the days that we can sit back and go to church only when we feel like it; and to simply think that we went to confirmation lessons, so we know it all.



On top of this, we are encouraged to be overflowing with thankfulness. But how can we be thankful in the midst of very unsettling times, that are seemingly getting worse all the time? We surely need to have lots of good things around us if we are to be safe? But then, in light of what is happen, all that might so easily be taken away from us as well? The things that we have relied on, can today be so easily taken away from us?



That is why we again need to go back to the basics, and then we are able to be overflowing with thankfulness, no matter what lies before us. Because of a strong focus and centre is in Jesus Christ we know that all things will work out for good. Not necessarily in worldly terms. But because Jesus is Lord and God he knows what is best, and he know what will ensure that we do not lose out on eternal life with him in heaven.



This reading tells us quite clearly: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. So despite what we see when we look around us in worldly terms, we now can be sure that God is in control. Sure he is allowing us human beings to bring untold hardships on ourselves. But he does so, so that we can again be reminded that we cannot do life by ourselves without reference to God and what he has to say to us in his Word.



Sinful, selfish humanity will continually get it wrong, as we are seeing around us today. However, God has stepped into our world to give us a way out. He sends his Son, Jesus to do what was necessary for us to be joined back into God’s family.

We read: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 



Jesus gives his life into death on the cross so that we might be forgiven and enabled once more to live with God, both here on earth and in eternity. What we have continually strived for, he has been made possible. In connection with him we can live forever. And beyond this life we can have health, wealth and happiness, with a complete absence of anything bad and evil happening to us. It is there for us, guaranteed.



Also: In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self, ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 



God has done everything necessary, through Jesus Christ to ensure that it is all there for us. Even now in the midst of, and as things get even worse, in our world, he will ensure that we will gain everything that he has promised for us. He has joined us to himself in our baptism, and as we now stay close to him, trusting him alone, we can be sure that all things will work for good.



Here also remember that final verse of our reading. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. So again the reassurance is that just as the terrible death on the cross appeared to be a win for evil, it was in fact its defeat. So also for us, evil is not able to win out over us. In fact, it is defeated, and is instead now used for the good of those who love him.



So let us now See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

Instead let us look to and hold firmly to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us allow him to lead and guide us through these difficult days ahead, so that we can give all glory and honour to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For after all to him alone does it all belong, now and forever.  AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish