A lot of evil has been done on this earth and much evil is still being done. Even as you read this, people, even children, all over the world are suffering in ways you could not imagine. I know this is not a pleasant thought, but it is the truth. To get on with life we tend to put these sorts of things out of our minds. But consider how God feels. He knows all the suffering of his children around the world all at once. How immeasurably great God’s grief must be! In reflecting on this Solomon considers that, given the horrors that await so many people in this world, it would be better to have not been born at all. This perspective is important because it narrows down the reason for us being here. What is the purpose of us being born into this world? Is it simply to suffer? Is it simply to spend our whole lives trying to avoid suffering and pursuing pleasure? This is how many people live, and it does beg the question, why be born at all? There is one reason for us to be born here. It is to do our small part in the mission of Jesus. The world fell into this chaos because we abandoned our purpose, and the world will be restored as we pick it up again. To really be there for people often means that we suffer with them. God puts us in the ‘same boat’ as others because the boat is sinking and we have a part in God’s plan to save people.
Think about how you can bless someone today.
Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
