“Who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow?” (6:12b). Considering the brevity of life on earth, and the meaningless of the pursuits that occupy the time and effort of human beings, can we say that there is anything at all that is good and profitable in the course of our lives? Are there any pursuits that are worthwhile? Considering the fact of pain and suffering and the inevitability of sickness and death, how are we to live out our days? While we are in a human predicament there are few if any modern psychologist and self-help gurus who can offer us any truly helpful instructions on how to live practically in the midst of trials; however, Qoheleth suggests four ways to maneuver through the valleys of life in order to survive adversity. First he recommends thinking about death as opposed to living in denial (1-4); secondly that it is better to be openly rebuked than flattered by fools (5-6); third he suggests, that the end of a matter is better than its beginning (vs. 7-10); and fourth he instructs that there is an advantage to living wisely (vss. 11-12). All of this is to be lived out in the atmosphere of understanding that God sovereignly ordains both our days of prosperity as well as our days of adversity.
